NY State Senate Bill S7861A

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (21)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Nov 22, 2022	approval memo.27 signed chap.629
Nov 21, 2022	delivered to governor
May 17, 2022	returned to senate passed assembly
Apr 04, 2022	ordered to third reading cal.515 substituted for a9336a
Mar 24, 2022	referred to agriculture returned to assembly repassed senate
Mar 21, 2022	amended on third reading 7861a
Mar 21, 2022	vote reconsidered - restored to third reading returned to senate recalled from assembly
Mar 09, 2022	referred to agriculture delivered to assembly passed senate
Feb 07, 2022	advanced to third reading
Feb 03, 2022	2nd report cal.
Feb 02, 2022	1st report cal.430
Jan 12, 2022	referred to agriculture

Votes

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

Co-Sponsors

S7861 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9336
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets

S7861 - Summary

Directs the department of agriculture and markets, in cooperation with NYSERDA and institutions of higher education, to develop and produce guidance and educational materials for farmers on the use of agrivoltaics in farming; requires the department of agriculture and markets to provide a booth at the state fair for the purpose of educating the general public on the use of agrivoltaics in farming.

S7861 - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S7861

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to direct the department of agriculture and markets, in cooper-
ation with the New York state energy research and development authority,
to develop and produce guidance and educational materials on the use of
agrivoltaics in farming

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to promote the benefits to farmers of the
co-location of solar power systems on active farmland for crop
production, reduced energy costs, and climate resilience.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

The department of agriculture and markets, in cooperation with the New
York state energy research and development authority, is directed to
develop guidance and educational materials on the use of agrivoltaics in
farming. For purposes of the bill, the term agrivoltaics is defined as

the co-location of photovoltaic panels and agriculture and/or animal
grazing, for the simultaneous production of electricity and crops on the
same land.

The educational materials produced would include the potential for
reduced electricity costs, reduced water use, enhanced marketing and
potential for extended growing seasons for shade-resistant crops. The
guidance should also include standards for such things as pollinator
friendly practices.

The department is directed to provide a booth at the next New York state
fair for educating the public on the use of agrivoltaics in farming.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Agrivoltaics consists of integrating photo-voltaic modules above crops
in order to enhance climate resilience and allow sustainable food and
energy production on one single piece of land. While in the past it was
a question of either food or solar energy production on farmland, agri-
voltaics can combine both successfully as well as achieving greater
efficiencies on both activities. By working together on the same land,
farmers and energy developers can realize benefits for both endeavors
while preserving the agricultural character of the state's rural commu-
nities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill
  
FISCAL  IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

S7861 - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7861
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 12, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
 
 AN ACT to direct the department of agriculture and markets,  in  cooper-
   ation with the New York state energy research and development authori-
   ty,  to  develop and produce guidance and educational materials on the
   use of agrivoltaics in farming

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Definitions. For the purposes of this act, the term "agri-
 voltaics" shall mean an arrangement of land use  that  collocates  solar
 photovoltaic  panels  and  agriculture  and/or  animal  grazing, for the
 purpose of producing electricity and producing crops and/or animal farm-
 ing simultaneously from a single land unit.
   § 2. Guidance and educational materials  on  agrivoltaics.    (a)  The
 department  of agriculture and markets, in cooperation with the New York
 state energy research and development authority, shall develop  guidance
 and  educational materials for farmers regarding the use of agrivoltaics
 in farming that shall, at a minimum, contain the following:
   (i) benefits impacting crop production, reduced electricity costs, and
 diversified revenue streams;
   (ii) information on the use of high value shade-resistant crops;
   (iii)  potential  marketing  opportunities  to  sustainability-mindful
 consumers;
   (iv) potentials for water use reduction;
   (v) potentials for extended crop growing seasons; and
   (vi) pollinator-friendly standards and practices.
   (b)  No later than one hundred twenty days after the effective date of
 this act, the guidance and educational materials developed  pursuant  to
 paragraph (a) of this section shall be produced and distributed to coop-
 erative  extension  offices  located  in the state and to New York state
 soil and  water  conservation  districts,  and  made  available  on  the
 websites  of  the department of agriculture and markets and the New York
 state energy research and development authority.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14275-02-2

 S. 7861                             2
 
   § 3. State fair. The  department  of  agriculture  and  markets  shall
 provide  a  booth  at  the  New York state fair, established pursuant to
 article 2-A of the agriculture and markets law, next occurring after the
 effective date of this act, for the purpose  of  educating  the  general
 public on the use of agrivoltaics in farming.
   §  4.  Powers.  The  department of agriculture and markets and the New
 York state energy research and development authority  may  consult  with
 any  state  or  local office, agency, or department, request information
 from any such entity, or conduct any research that is relevant and mate-
 rial to the  development  of  the  guidance  and  educational  materials
 directed to be developed pursuant to section two of this act.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

Co-Sponsors

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9336
Law Section:: Agriculture and Markets

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S7861A

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to direct the department of agriculture and markets, in cooper-
ation with the New York state energy research and development authority,
to develop and produce guidance and educational materials on the use of
agrivoltaics in farming

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to promote the benefits to farmers of the
co-location of solar power systems on active farmland for crop
production, reduced energy costs, and climate resilience.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

The department of agriculture and markets, in cooperation with the New
York state energy research and development authority, is directed to
develop guidance and educational materials on the use of agrivoltaics in
farming. For purposes of the bill, the term agrivoltaics is defined as

the co-location of photovoltaic panels and agriculture and/or animal
grazing, for the simultaneous production of electricity and crops on the
same land.

The educational materials produced would include the potential for
reduced electricity costs, reduced water use, enhanced marketing and
potential for extended growing seasons for shade-resistant crops. The
guidance should also include standards for such things as pollinator
friendly practices.

The department is directed to provide a booth at the next New York state
fair for educating the public on the use of agrivoltaics in farming.

** The amendments to this bill are technical in nature.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Agrivoltaics consists of integrating photo-voltaic modules above crops
in order to enhance climate resilience and allow sustainable food and
energy production on one single piece of land. While in the past it was
a question of either food or solar energy production on farmland, agri-
voltaics can combine both successfully as well as achieving greater
efficiencies on both activities. By working together on the same land,
farmers and energy developers can realize benefits for both endeavors
while preserving the agricultural character of the state's rural commu-
nities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7861--A
     Cal. No. 430
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 12, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  MAY, RAMOS -- read twice and ordered printed, and
   when printed to be  committed  to  the  Committee  on  Agriculture  --
   reported  favorably  from  said committee, ordered to first and second
   report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered  to
   the  Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading,
   amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place  in  the  order  of
   third reading
 
 AN  ACT  to direct the department of agriculture and markets, in cooper-
   ation with the New York state energy research and development authori-
   ty, to develop and produce guidance and educational materials  on  the
   use of agrivoltaics in farming
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this act, the term  "agri-
 voltaics"  shall  mean  the  simultaneous  use of areas of land for both
 solar photovoltaic power generation and agriculture including the collo-
 cation of solar photovoltaic  panels  and  production  of  crops  and/or
 animal farming such as grazing on the same property.
   §  2.  Guidance  and  educational materials on agrivoltaics.   (a) The
 department of agriculture and markets, in cooperation with the New  York
 state  energy  research  and  development  authority and institutions of
 higher education with expertise in agrivoltaics, shall develop  guidance
 and  educational materials for farmers regarding the use of agrivoltaics
 in farming that shall, at a minimum, contain the following:
   (i) information about available resources to assist farmers  to  maxi-
 mize  agricultural  production  including,  but  not limited to, growing
 crops or grazing animals on land with collocated solar panels;
   (ii) information on the use of high value shade-resistant crops;
   (iii) information about potential marketing opportunities to consumers
 interested in purchasing food and other agricultural products from farms
 that produce renewable energy and may be  positively  impacting  climate
 change;
   (iv)  the  potential  for  benefits such as reduced electricity costs,
 diversified revenue streams, and water use reduction;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14275-04-2
 S. 7861--A                          2
 
   (v) the potential for extended crop growing seasons; and
   (vi) information about pollinator-friendly standards and practices for
 farmland with collocated solar photovoltaic panels.
   (b)  No later than one hundred twenty days after the effective date of
 this act, the guidance and educational materials developed  pursuant  to
 paragraph (a) of this section shall be produced and distributed to coop-
 erative  extension  offices  located  in the state and to New York state
 soil and  water  conservation  districts,  and  made  available  on  the
 websites  of  the department of agriculture and markets and the New York
 state energy research and development authority.
   § 3. State fair. The  department  of  agriculture  and  markets  shall
 provide  a  booth  at  the  New York state fair, established pursuant to
 article 2-A of the agriculture and markets law, next occurring after the
 effective date of this act, for the purpose  of  educating  the  general
 public on the use of agrivoltaics in farming.
   § 4.  Agricultural exhibitions, conferences and meetings. The  depart-
 ment   of agriculture  and  markets may make available information about
 agrivoltaics  to  farmers  attending  agriculture  related  exhibitions,
 conferences and meetings.
   §  5.  Powers.  The  department of agriculture and markets and the New
 York state energy research and development authority  may  consult  with
 any  state  or  local office, agency, or department, request information
 from any such entity, or conduct any research that is relevant and mate-
 rial to the  development  of  the  guidance  and  educational  materials
 directed to be developed pursuant to section two of this act.
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S7861A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Mar 24, 2022 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 24, 2022

Mar 9, 2022 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 9, 2022

Feb 2, 2022 - Agriculture committee Vote

Committee Vote: Feb 2, 2022

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S7861 - Details

S7861 - Summary

S7861 - Sponsor Memo

S7861 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Details

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S7861A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Rachel May

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Mar 24, 2022 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 24, 2022

Mar 9, 2022 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 9, 2022

Feb 2, 2022 - Agriculture committee Vote

Committee Vote: Feb 2, 2022

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

Jessica Ramos

S7861 - Details

S7861 - Summary

S7861 - Sponsor Memo

S7861 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

Jessica Ramos

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Details

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S7861A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments