[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1778 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1778
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a study and
research and demonstration on agrivoltaic systems.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 31 (legislative day, May 30), 2023
Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a study and
research and demonstration on agrivoltaic systems.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Agrivoltaics Research and
Demonstration Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEMS.
(a) Definition of Agrivoltaic System.--In this section, the term
``agrivoltaic system'' means a system under which solar energy
production and agricultural production, including crop or animal
production, occurs in an integrated manner on the same piece of land
through the duration of a project.
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to
in this section as the ``Secretary''), in coordination with the
Secretary of Energy and relevant experts, shall conduct a study
on agrivoltaic systems that shall include--
(A) a review of the current research and gaps in
research relating to the regional compatibility of
different species of livestock with different
agrivoltaic panel and agrivoltaic system designs,
including--
(i) the optimal height of and distance
between solar panels for--
(I) livestock grazing; and
(II) shade for livestock;
(ii) manure management considerations;
(iii) fencing requirements;
(iv) other animal handling considerations;
and
(v) the incorporation of apiculture;
(B) an assessment of animal breeding research needs
with respect to beneficial and compatible
characteristics and behaviors of different species of
grazing animals in agrivoltaic systems;
(C) a review of the current research and gaps in
research relating to the regional compatibility of
different crop types with different agrivoltaic system
designs, including--
(i) the optimal height of and distance
between solar panels for--
(I) plant shading; and
(II) farm equipment use;
(ii) the impact on crop yield;
(iii) the impact on soil moisture and water
availability; and
(iv) market opportunities to sell crops at
a premium price;
(D) an assessment of plant breeding research needs
with respect to beneficial and compatible
characteristics of different crops, including specialty
and perennial crops, in agrivoltaic systems;
(E) a risk-benefit analysis of agrivoltaic systems
in different regions of the United States, including a
comparison between the total greenhouse gas impact of
agrivoltaic systems and solar energy systems that
displace agricultural production;
(F) an assessment of the economic scalability of
agrivoltaic systems across different agricultural land
types, production systems, and regional markets;
(G) an assessment of the types of agricultural land
best suited and worst suited for agrivoltaic systems;
(H) an assessment of how to best develop
agrivoltaic systems on a national and local scale
consistent with--
(i) maintaining or increasing agricultural
production;
(ii) increasing agricultural resilience;
(iii) retaining prime farmland;
(iv) increasing economic opportunities in
farming and rural communities;
(v) reducing nonfarmer ownership of
farmland; and
(vi) enhancing biodiversity;
(I) an assessment of the unique risk management and
crop insurance needs of agrivoltaic systems;
(J) an assessment of how Federal procurement of
agricultural products could help build a market for
agricultural products from farms with agrivoltaic
systems; and
(K) an assessment of appropriate modifications to
better incorporate agrivoltaic systems into existing
Federal--
(i) agricultural conservation programs;
(ii) agricultural risk management programs,
including Federal crop insurance;
(iii) renewable energy programs;
(iv) agricultural procurement programs; and
(v) investment tax credits.
(2) 5-year plan.--Based on the study under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall develop a 5-year plan for using the
research, extension, outreach, conservation, and renewable
energy activities of the Department of Agriculture to better
support agrivoltaic systems that do not displace agricultural
production.
(3) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate a report containing the results of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).
(4) Regulatory definition.--
(A) In general.--Based on the study under paragraph
(1), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary
of Energy and farm and conservation groups, shall
develop a definition of the term ``agrivoltaic system''
for purposes of the incorporation of agrivoltaic
systems into Federal--
(i) agricultural conservation programs;
(ii) agricultural risk management programs,
including Federal crop insurance;
(iii) renewable energy programs;
(iv) agricultural procurement programs; and
(v) investment tax credits.
(B) Considerations.--In developing the definition
of ``agrivoltaic system'' under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall consider--
(i) using or modifying the definition
described in subsection (a);
(ii) regional needs and variations in
climate, soils, costs, existing infrastructure,
and market access for agrivoltaic system
products;
(iii) existing State and local agrivoltaic
system policies and definitions; and
(iv) such other factors as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(c) Agrivoltaic System Research and Demonstration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service and in
coordination with the Director of the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture and the relevant research programs of the
Department of Energy, shall establish and maintain a network of
research and demonstration sites operated by the Agricultural
Research Service to investigate and demonstrate agrivoltaic
systems in multiple regions of the United States, including
arid, semi-arid, and wet agricultural zones, that--
(A) increase agricultural productivity and
profitability;
(B) enhance agricultural resilience and the
capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change;
(C) protect biodiversity; and
(D) increase economic opportunities in farming and
rural communities.
(2) Collaboration.--In establishing and maintaining the
network described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
collaborate with USDA Climate Hubs and extension programs to
share research findings and translate research findings into
educational, outreach, and technical assistance materials for
agricultural producers.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.
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