{"id":383,"date":"2021-05-05T09:17:43","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T09:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pscsolaruk.com\/blog\/?p=383"},"modified":"2021-05-05T09:17:43","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T09:17:43","slug":"the-agricultural-economic-and-environmental-impacts-of-co-locating-agricultural-enterprises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pscsolaruk.com\/blog\/the-agricultural-economic-and-environmental-impacts-of-co-locating-agricultural-enterprises\/","title":{"rendered":"Study on economic and environmental impacts of co-located solar + agriculture now underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

The American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA)<\/a>\u00a0will begin collecting and analyzing data on the agricultural, economic, and environmental impacts of co-locating agricultural enterprises such as commercial beekeeping and sheep grazing on photovoltaic sites.<\/p>

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Sheep on a Nexamp solar<\/a> project<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cNew York State has one of the most ambitious solar energy mandates in the country,\u201d says shepherd Lexie Hain, executive director of the American Solar Grazing Association. New York\u2019s renewable energy policies could increase competition for open land \u2014 or create new opportunities. \u201cBy working together on the same land, farmers and energy developers can realize benefits for all involved while preserving the agricultural character of the state\u2019s rural communities. It\u2019s not an all-or-nothing proposition; with this study, ASGA will be able to collect and analyze data on the economic and environmental impacts of co-locating ag and solar ventures on the same site.\u201d<\/p>

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The project is being funded by a $198,000 research grant from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) through its Environmental Research Program which aims to increase the understanding and awareness of the environmental and public health impacts of energy choices and emerging energy options and provide a scientific foundation for creating effective and equitable energy-related environmental policies and resource management practices.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u201cNYSERDA works with stakeholders throughout New York State to develop, invest, and foster the conditions to expand New York\u2019s clean energy economy. We\u2019re pleased to fund ASGA\u2019s work in assessing the impacts and benefits of co-location and documenting how solar developers, shepherds, and beekeepers can optimize these practices to encourage the development of solar energy while preserving New York State\u2019s valuable agricultural and environmental resources,\u201d said Doreen M. Harris, President, and CEO, NYSERDA.<\/p>

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Additional project partners on the two-year study include the New England Division of American Farmland Trust and Juniper Economic Consulting. Data collection and analysis will focus on solar planting mixes, economics of co-location, solar equipment risk, and soil health from 30 existing, ground-mounted solar sites throughout the Northeast \u2014 primarily in New York State and neighboring states.<\/p>\n

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Credit: Connexus<\/p>

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