NYSAC Releases Report Calling for Balanced Renewable Energy Siting Policies that Protect Farmland and Support New York's Energy Future

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) today released a new report outlining county-led recommendations to better balance New York's renewable energy goals with the need to protect productive farmland, support local communities, and maintain a reliable and affordable energy system. The report, Balancing Renewable Energy Siting and Farmland Protection in New York State, reflects the work of NYSAC's Steering Committee on Energy Siting and Farmland Protection and incorporates feedback from county leaders across the state.

The report comes as New York accelerates efforts to meet its clean energy goals while facing growing concerns from local governments about the loss of prime agricultural land, constraints on local land-use authority, and increasing pressure on rural communities hosting large-scale renewable energy projects. The report concludes that New York can and must advance both clean energy development and farmland protection, but that doing so will require a more balanced siting framework and greater investment in alternative energy strategies.

"Counties support a clean energy future, but we should not be forced to choose between achieving our climate goals and preserving the farmland that sustains New York's agricultural economy," said NYSAC President Philip R. Church. "This report provides practical recommendations that allow the state to advance renewable energy while protecting working farms, strengthening local decision-making, and ensuring communities remain economically viable."

Developed through a statewide survey of county officials and a county-led summit on energy siting and farmland protection, the report highlights several recurring concerns raised by counties, including the concentration of solar development on prime agricultural soils, limitations in the current state siting process, and the need for stronger farmland preservation tools.

Among its recommendations, the report calls for:

• Stronger protections for New York's most productive agricultural soils;
• Restoring meaningful local authority in siting decisions
• Greater consideration of brownfields, landfills, rooftops, parking canopies, and other non-agricultural sites for renewable energy development;
• Increased investment in farmland preservation and farm viability programs; and
• Strategic investments in transmission infrastructure to reduce development pressure on agricultural lands.

The report also recognizes that renewable energy siting challenges cannot be viewed in isolation from broader questions surrounding New York's future energy supply. Counties noted that increasing electricity demand, electrification goals, and grid reliability concerns require a comprehensive strategy that expands generation capacity while maintaining affordability for residents and businesses.

In conjunction with the report's release, NYSAC's Board of Directors recently adopted a resolution urging state leaders to pursue a diversified "all-of-the-above" energy strategy that includes renewable energy, expanded transmission infrastructure, nuclear generation, and other reliable energy resources needed to support housing growth, economic development, and long-term grid reliability. The resolution emphasizes that New York's clean energy transition must be accompanied by investments that ensure energy remains affordable and dependable for communities across the state.

“Our members are telling us that we need an energy transition bridge that allows for a balanced energy approach that includes natural gas, fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy from water, wind, solar, and heat pumps. And this week, our board is conveying that message to state leaders,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.

“County leaders are committed to the future of our communities and of New York State. We want the best for our residents, businesses, and those that will come after us. In terms of energy policy, that means we need a stable supply of affordable power that will support and preserve our families, farms, and businesses across the state,” said President Church. 

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