The Hudson Valley is home to numerous apple orchards, a vital sector of this region’s economy, consisting of about 46 orchards, with Angry Orchard located right here in Walden. A New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) $5 million grant to the Cornell Hudson Valley Research Laboratory will experiment how apple orchards and agrivoltaics interact, potentially providing a win-win scenario for the climate and farmers.
Agrivoltaics are an emerging technology where solar panels are placed on agricultural fields among crops or livestock grazing. This dual use of land provides a mechanism to increase renewable energy production, helping to combat climate change and meet New York State’s goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, while also providing an additional revenue stream to support farmers amidst variable financial conditions. According to NYSERDA, New York State is home to over 33,000 farms spanning approximately 20 percent of the state’s land area, or about 7 million acres. Agrivoltaics projects have shown the opportunities to utilize existing agricultural land in unique ways that keep the land in farming, financially support the farmer, and produce renewable energy for consumers.
On November 5, 2025, NYSERDA announced its commitment to agrivoltaics through a $5 million grant to Cornell for its apple orchard agrivoltaics research and a $2 million grant to four general agrivoltaics projects throughout the state. The grant to Cornell will facilitate research that is the first of its kind in the United States—the panels will be placed above apple trees. The panels will be movable to adapt to the specific needs of each apple species and to maximize the panels’ exposure to the sun. This not only has the potential to create a healthier crop but also will enhance energy output—Cornell’s design seeks to balance both food and energy production. This research will provide invaluable insight into this form of agrivoltaics and inform its potential viability to the approximate 600 apple orchards throughout the state.
The $2 million grant was awarded to four projects in four regions: the Capital Region, Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, and Southern Tier and Western New York. The Hudson Valley award was given to Lightstar Renewables for new vegetable operations in Orange County, supplementing existing work they’ve done in the county, including a new project on a hay farm in Montgomery that is already producing energy and crops. These projects can act as models for both the viability of agrivoltaics operations and the path through municipal land use approvals.
Attorneys at J&G Law have successfully assisted clients to address zoning and land use issues necessary to permit agrivoltaics projects in the Hudson Valley. This includes the first operational agrivoltaics project in the Hudson Valley in the Town of Montgomery. Municipalities can support agrivoltaics efforts by ensuring their zoning codes allow for this type of flexible land use while also taking into account the considerations of neighboring properties. Agrivoltaics are proving to be a vital way in which farmers can stabilize their incomes while maximizing the use of their land and providing renewable energy to their communities. NYSERDA’s grants are reinforcing the potential of these projects and providing a key investment into the future, one that municipalities can help facilitate and turn into a reality.
This is not intended to be legal advice; you should contact an attorney to discuss your specific situation.
Isabelle Hayes, Esq., is an associate at J&G Law, concentrating in land use and municipal law. She can be reached by calling (845)764-9656 or by email.