In 2019, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) became law, setting ambitious renewable energy mandates for New York State, including 100% emissions free electricity by 2040, to address climate change.  To achieve these goals, there will need to be dramatic growth in solar energy generation, particularly large scale projects occupying hundreds or even thousands of acres. Agricultural land is often chosen for hosting such projects, bringing both opportunities and challenges for farmland protection and New York’s farm economy. Given growing concern in farm communities, New York state needs a new approach to siting solar development on farmland that meets clean energy requirements while supporting agriculture and future food security.  

To address these issues, throughout 2021 American Farmland Trust, guided by an expert advisory group, conducted statewide surveys of nearly 750 farmers, local government officials, land trusts and environmental organizations.  AFT also convened four roundtables including with solar developers to share research results and to develop recommendations. In this webinar, Samantha Levy, Mikaela Ruiz-Ramón, and Ethan Winter will share findings from American Farmland Trust’s new report which lays out a smart solar siting framework along with recommendations to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of solar development on New York’s most productive farmland and farm communities.  

A Land Use training certificate will be offered to interested attendees after the webinar. 

Please register below to join us on Thursday, March 3rd from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. This webinar will be recorded and sent after the event to those who registered.

Contact Info: Mikaela Ruiz-Ramón (mruiz-ramon@farmland.org)