NYPA Press Release

For Immediate Release: 12/04/25 
Contact: media.inquiries@nypa.gov | (518) 860-9935 

 

New York Power Authority Announces Solar Array Demonstration Project at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech

1.5-MW HARVEST Agrivoltaic System to Inform EPRI-Led Study on Co-Location of Solar Energy Installations with Agricultural Practices

SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech Students to Participate in Project’s Development

See Event Photos Here

 

ALBANY, N.Y.—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today announced it will develop a 1.5-megawatt (MW) solar array at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill. The demonstration project, Harnessing Agrivoltaics for Renewable Vitality and Energizing Sustainability Technology (HARVEST), is designed to support and validate future agrivoltaics projects, which simultaneously use land for agricultural practices—such as livestock grazing and crop cultivation—and power generation using solar panels. 

“The buildout of solar energy infrastructure is a top-of-mind concern for many farmers, as much of the land suitable for such development is agricultural,” said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “The HARVEST project will be the subject of a study on how to improve agrivoltaic systems, reflecting the importance of balancing efforts to add renewable energy to the grid while supporting our state's vital agricultural industry.” 

The project, supported by $750,000 in funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will be developed by the Power Authority and the independent, non-profit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and inform an EPRI-led study on optimizing agrivoltaics systems. The data-driven results of the study will be published to advise proper techniques and tools that optimize sustainable vegetation, agriculture yield, overall system performance and photovoltaic electricity generation. 

Cobleskill Ag & Tech will also take an active role in the project’s development, leading decisions on what crops or livestock can co-locate on the land. The college will also develop new, hands-on agrivoltaics curriculum for students associated with the project. Additionally, the Power Authority will host annual public engagement events associated with the project’s development for local residents. The project is expected to break ground in early 2027 and be brought online in 2029. 

Cobleskill Ag & Tech offers education in agriculture, technology, and related liberal arts disciplines, providing a range of associate and bachelor’s degree programs that emphasize hands-on learning and real-world experience. The college is well-known for its programs in animal and plant sciences, as well as environmental and wildlife management. Its 902-acre campus boasts a range of facilities, including a working farm, greenhouses, and state-of-the-art laboratories—all designed to support its academic programs and research initiatives. 

In 2023, NYPA and EPRI published astudy on agrivoltaics that determined a best-practice site would involve stakeholder collaboration, community education, policy incentives, site-safety practices, and site-individualized crop selection and solar array design. In developing HARVEST, NYPA and EPRI developed a project plan that builds on those practices—paired with data collection measures—that will make it easier to facilitate community outreach and information sessions. 

HARVEST is included in thedraft NYPA Renewables Updated Strategic Plan, which details the Power Authority’s efforts to develop, own and operate renewable generation and energy storage projects. NYPA held two virtual public hearings and a 45-day public comment period associated with the draft plan that ended on September 12 and received more than 6,000 comments. The NYPA Board of Trustees will hold a vote to approve an updated renewables strategic plan on December 9. 

The Power Authority’s renewables program was created following the enactment of the 2023-24 State Budget. The budget legislation—signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul—authorized and directed NYPA to advance renewable energy projects, support clean energy workforce training, and establish the Renewable Energy Access and Community Help (REACH) program. The Power Authority’s renewables efforts are supported by $200 million in funding through the Sustainable Future Program, announced by Governor Hochul as part of her 2025 State of the State. 

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is proud to partner with NYPA and SUNY Cobleskill to co-locate solar and agricultural operations at the College of Agriculture and Technology campus. The HARVEST project will not only benefit the college and its students but help explore the promising role agrivoltaics could play in meeting New York State’s future energy and agricultural development needs.”   

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “Since its founding, SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech has been a pioneer in New York State’s agricultural education. The HARVEST agrivoltaics project will help the campus remain at the forefront of innovation and sustainable agricultural practices. I thank Governor Hochul for continuing to invest in SUNY campuses and our efforts to help move New York State forward." 

SUNY Trustee Courtney Burke, Chair of the Research and Economic Development Committee, said, “SUNY is proud to work alongside Governor Hochul, NYPA, and NYSERDA on the implementation of the HARVEST solar energy project. By investing in this project, Governor Hochul and state leaders are helping ensure New York serves as an example for educational excellence and the practical applications of cutting-edge research." 

EPRI Vice President of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy David Portersaid, “Through EPRI’s involvement in the NYPA-led HARVEST we are able to leverage our vast network to bring together emerging solar and grid technologies to support sustainable agriculture. Through this effort, farmers in New York and across the country will gain access to insights enabling productive crop cultivation while contributing renewable energy to the grid and supporting grid resilience.” 

President of SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech Dr. Marion Terenziosaid, “Our mission as an institution, centers on advancing sustainable agriculture and technology through hands-on research. The HARVEST project represents a significant opportunity to objectively evaluate emerging approaches to land use optimization in collaboration with NYPA and EPRI. Through evidence-based research like this, farmers and their agricultural communities will have access to data and information needed to make informed decisions about their own land management strategies.” 

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ballsaid, “We’re working hard with our partners to ensure that we can add new renewable energy to the grid while supporting our farmers at the same time. This project developed by NYPA and SUNY Ag and Tech is a great example of this collaboration, and I know it will give us a better understanding of how a farm business and solar can co-locate to the benefit of all parties. I look forward to seeing this innovative project and accompanying research across the State take shape.” 

Assemblymember Didi Barrettsaid, “As Chair of the Assembly’s Energy Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee, I have been a longtime proponent of agrivoltaics. Our state has world class soils which have fed New York families for generations and agrivoltaics enables farms to keep growing food while at the same time increasing our renewable energy production. The new HARVEST project at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech will serve as a model for integrating renewable energy with farming and will inform best practices for future projects across the state.” 

Senator Peter Oberacker said, “SUNY Cobleskill has long been a leader in hands-on agricultural innovation and the HARVEST project is another example of how our region is helping shape New York’s future. Pairing renewable power generation with working farmland is a forward-thinking approach that protects our agricultural heritage while embracing new opportunities for students, farmers, and local communities. I applaud all involved for investing in research that will give our farmers real-world data and ensure that clean energy development works hand-in-hand with the needs of rural New York.” 

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “The HARVEST project at SUNY Cobleskill is an exciting step forward for agrivoltaics research in New York. We can’t replace the climate crisis with a food crisis, which is why we must protect our farmland from overdevelopment while giving farmers new revenue streams that keep them in control of their land. SUNY Cobleskill continues to lead by example, combining hands-on student learning with practical, cutting-edge research, and we thank all involved—including NYPA, NYSERDA, and EPRI—for driving this work forward.”

Assemblymember Christopher Tague said, “As a farmer and Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee, I applaud NYPA and SUNY Cobleskill for tackling agrivoltaics the right way by putting real research and real farmers first. Projects like HARVEST will hopefully prove we can grow clean energy and preserve every acre of productive farmland for tomorrow’s needs.” 

 

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