NYSERDA

Pick a topic, get updates! (opens in new window) Find a Program Find A Contractor About Language Print this page Back to Find a Program Sun and Soil Program Apply Now The Sun and Soil Program supports New York farmers to generate solar energy while keeping productive farmland in active agricultural use, providing steady income and powering farm operations through agrivoltaics  and on-farm solar and battery storage. Launched in the 2026 State of the State address, the program is administered by NYSERDA in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Key Program Benefits Additional farm income. Solar energy generation provides a supplemental revenue stream to help stabilize farm finances. Farmland stays in production. Solar and agriculture share the same land, and we learn and develop co-utilization best practices. Lower energy costs. On-site solar generation and battery storage can reduce farm operating expenses year over year. Statewide agricultural impact. Open to New York’s 33,000+ farms across nearly 7 million acres of working land. How the Program Works NYSERDA invests in projects and partnerships to help farmers, solar developers, and communities integrate solar energy production with agriculture across New York State, primarily through agrivoltaics, the simultaneous use of land for solar energy generation and agricultural production. Solar and battery storage systems to power farm operations are also supported. Research & Demonstration NYSERDA funds active agrivoltaics and on-farm solar and battery storage projects and provides them with research and innovation support to advance knowledge and practice and understand agronomic viability across New York’s diverse farm types and climates. Informational Resources NYSERDA develops guides, case studies, and technical assistance to help farmers and communities evaluate agrivoltaics options and understand costs and benefits and how they could integrate solar successfully into their operations. Capacity Building NYSERDA works with partners to bolster the capacity for communities to work together to integrate solar with farmland in ways that sustain agricultural production and communities. Related Resources Agricultural Technical Working Group Explore the advisory group whose members represent farmers; agricultural advocates and technical assistance providers; NGOs and academics in agriculture, clean energy, and the environment; local and regional government entities; and state agencies. Learn More Agricultural Technical Working Group (opens in new window) Agrivoltaics Research & Demonstration Projects Discover the research projects that were competitively selected for awards to support the integration of agriculture into new and existing solar facilities. Learn More Agrivoltaics Research & Demonstration Projects Solar Research at NY Agriculture Experiment Stations Learn about Cornell’s agrivoltaics projects at station sites in the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes regions, conducting research on land for solar energy and agricultural production. Learn More Solar Research at NY Agriculture Experiment Stations Want to Stay Connected? Join our email list to stay up to date on the latest information about NYSERDA’s Sun and Soil Program. Join Our Email List back to top