Assembly Actions -
Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE |
|
---|---|
Mar 26, 2025 |
print number 6286a |
Mar 26, 2025 |
amend and recommit to agriculture |
Mar 07, 2025 |
referred to agriculture |
Senate Bill S6286A
2025-2026 Legislative Session
Sponsored By
(D, WF) 41st Senate District
Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee
- Introduced
-
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
-
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
-
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- Delivered to Governor
- Signed By Governor
Actions
Bill Amendments
2025-S6286 - Details
2025-S6286 - Summary
Establishes the agrivoltaics viability pilot program to provide grants to identify the best practices and strategies for agrivoltaics and dual-use solar energy projects that protect soil health during construction and decommissioning of solar arrays, utilize sustainable agricultural production practices, monitor any benefits solar energy may have on farms and to the state, track economic viability, study the commercialization of dual-use solar energy projects, and encourage equitable engagement of stakeholders.
2025-S6286 - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S6286 SPONSOR: HINCHEY TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the agrivoltaics viability pilot program PURPOSE: To create a pilot program that will provide grants to identify best practices and strategies for construction and operation of dual-use solar energy projects on land which receives an agricultural assessment. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section one adds a new section 1885 to the public authorities law which directs NYSERDA to establish and implement an Agrivoltaics Viability Pilot Program in consultation with the Public Service Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Environ- mental Conservation. The program will provide grants for projects to identify the best practices and strategies for dual-use projects to meet
2025-S6286 - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 6286 2025-2026 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E March 7, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the agrivoltaics viability pilot program THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1885 to read as follows: § 1885. AGRIVOLTAICS VIABILITY PILOT PROGRAM. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE FINDS THAT AS NEW YORK PROGRESSES TO UTILIZING CLEAN ENERGY, THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A SUBSTAN- TIAL ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WHILE ALSO PROTECTING AND MAIN- TAINING VIABLE FARMLAND THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF AGRIVOLTAICS. DUAL-USE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO KEEP FARMLAND AS WORKING AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES PROVIDING ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND ASSISTING THE STATE IN REACHING ITS CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT GOALS. THE LEGISLATURE HEREBY DECLARES THAT TO PROGRESS THE INITIATIVES OF THE FARMLAND VIABILITY PROGRAM, THE AUTHORITY SHALL CREATE AN AGRI- VOLTAICS VIABILITY PILOT PROGRAM. 2. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: (A) "AGRIVOLTAICS" SHALL MEAN THE SIMULTANEOUS USE OF AREAS OF LAND FOR BOTH SOLAR POWER GENERATION AND AGRICULTURE. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, AGRIVOLTAICS SHALL BE NARROWED TO THE PRACTICES OF A DUAL- USE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT. (B) "DUAL-USE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT" MEANS A SOLAR INSTALLATION THAT INTEGRATES SOLAR ARRAYS AND FARMING ACTIVITY ON THE SAME GROUND. TO BE CONSIDERED DUAL-USE, A SOLAR INSTALLATION CANNOT SIGNIFICANTLY DISPLACE FARMING ACTIVITY; FARMING ACTIVITY MUST BE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE SOLAR FACILITY IN A MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH COMMER- CIAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AS APPROPRIATE TO THE CAPACITY OF THE LAND. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08116-04-5
co-Sponsors
(D, WF) 46th Senate District
2025-S6286A (ACTIVE) - Details
2025-S6286A (ACTIVE) - Summary
Establishes the agrivoltaics viability pilot program to provide grants to identify the best practices and strategies for agrivoltaics and dual-use solar energy projects that protect soil health during construction and decommissioning of solar arrays, utilize sustainable agricultural production practices, monitor any benefits solar energy may have on farms and to the state, track economic viability, study the commercialization of dual-use solar energy projects, and encourage equitable engagement of stakeholders.
2025-S6286A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S6286A SPONSOR: HINCHEY TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the agrivoltaics viability pilot program PURPOSE: To create a pilot program that will provide grants to identify best practices and strategies for construction and operation of dual-use solar energy projects on land which receives an agricultural assessment. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section one adds a new section 1885 to the public authorities law which directs NYSERDA to establish and implement an Agrivoltaics Viability Pilot Program in consultation with the Public Service Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Environ- mental Conservation. The program will provide grants for projects to identify the best practices and strategies for dual-use projects to meet
2025-S6286A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 6286--A 2025-2026 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E March 7, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the agrivoltaics viability pilot program THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1885 to read as follows: § 1885. AGRIVOLTAICS VIABILITY PILOT PROGRAM. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE FINDS THAT AS NEW YORK PROGRESSES TO UTILIZING CLEAN ENERGY, THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A SUBSTAN- TIAL ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WHILE ALSO PROTECTING AND MAIN- TAINING VIABLE FARMLAND THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF AGRIVOLTAICS. DUAL-USE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO KEEP FARMLAND AS WORKING AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES PROVIDING ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO FARMERS AND ASSISTING THE STATE IN REACHING ITS CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT GOALS. THE LEGISLATURE HEREBY DECLARES THAT TO PROGRESS THE INITIATIVES OF THE FARMLAND VIABILITY PROGRAM, THE AUTHORITY SHALL CREATE AN AGRI- VOLTAICS VIABILITY PILOT PROGRAM. 2. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: (A) "AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND ACTIVITIES" SHALL INCLUDE: (I) CROP PRODUCTION; (II) ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AND (III) LIVESTOCK GRAZING OR CATTLE GRAZING; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND ACTIVITIES SHALL NOT INCLUDE SHEEP GRAZING AS THE SOLE FARMING ACTIVITY EXCEPT WHERE THE LAND UTILIZED IS CURRENTLY UTILIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SUCH PURPOSE. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. S LBD08116-06-5 S. 6286--A 2
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