Lightstar Announces Agrivoltaics Project at New York Farm

An agricultural farm in New York will add solar power at the site in a project designed to benefit both farmers and the solar energy community.

Lightstar Renewables LLC on August 4 announced the launch of the Plains Road Agrivoltaics project, which integrates solar energy with agriculture on the DiMartino Farm in Montgomery, New York. Solar Agricultural Services (SolAg) served as agricultural consultant on the installation.

Officials stressed that Plains Road Agrivoltaics was initially designed as an agricultural project. The solar array has been tailored to accommodate hay planting and harvest equipment, which is the core agricultural activity of the DiMartino Farm. The site also will see an addition of two acres of vegetable production, which Lightstar said will provide turnkey access to prime farmland for a new entry farmer.

The solar array is expected to provide electricity for the nearby community and also supports the long-term business efforts of the farm. Officials expect to commission the project in September of this year.

Commissioning Expected in September

“Plains Road stands as a beacon of what is possible when we are committed to problem solving and centering farmers’ needs,” said Lucy Bullock-Sieger, chief strategy officer at Lightstar. “There is so much more that we can do as an industry to listen to agricultural stewards and learn how growing food and powering homes can work in concert.”

The project moved forward after local regulations were adjusted to allow for agrivoltaic installations. Lightstar said that Montgomery is the first town in New York to adopt bylaws allowing agrivoltaics, with regulations that support agricultural production, including height restrictions, setbacks, and lot coverage.

Lightstar said the project aligns with American Farmland Trust’s Smart Solar principles, which back solar development that prioritizes farmers, communities, and the environment.

“Lightstar’s project is a prime example of the Smart Solar principles and reaffirms our commitment to fostering partnerships that benefit communities and protect our agricultural heritage,” said Linda Garrett, New York & New Jersey Regional Director at American Farmland Trust (AFT).

The Plains Road agrivoltaics project is expected to serve as a replicable model for sustainable development across New York state and also in the U.S. Lightstar officials emphasized the need to support farmers while also contributing to resilient energy systems and power grid reliability.

—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.