Navigating Solar Lease Agreements and the Solar Development Process: A Program for NY Farmers and Rural Landowners
Event Details
Date
October 26, 2021
Time
9:30am to ? (varies by county)
Location
Varies by County
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramCCE County Associations (contact your local CCE office to register)
You have the opportunity to lease your farmland to a solar energy company! It sounds like a sweet deal, and you are interested, but you are not sure just how it works...
Join your local participating county CCE association on October 26 at an in-person meeting for farmers and rural landowners to get answers to your solar leasing questions. This program will feature several live webinars presented by industry experts to help you navigate the solar development process, make informed decisions, and negotiate solar lease agreements.
Schedule
Webinar 1 (9:30-11:30)
9:30-10:15am: Understanding the Solar Development Process and What Solar Companies are Looking For. Presented by Loren Pruskowski, Owner, Ecolegacy Values. Loren is also the general contractor installing a solar array on his Guilderland, New York farm.
10:15-11:00am: Understanding Solar Lease Agreements and Tips for Negotiating a Contract. Presented by Scott Kurkoski, Assistant Managing Partner, Levene, Gouldin & Thompson, LLP. Scott got his start representing landowners in the fracking industry and has spent years assisting farmers and rural landowners in negotiating contracts with Solar companies.
11:00-11:30am: Q&A with Morning Presenters
Break (11:30-12:30)
11:30am-12:30pm: The program for this time will vary by county.
Webinar 2 (12:30-1:30)
12:30-1:30pm: How Municipal Regulations Affect Solar Development Opportunities at the Local Level. Presented by Jeffrey Kehoe, NYS Department of Ag and Markets. Learn how local communities can best prepare for managing the huge influx of solar company demand for land.
Local Program (1:30-?)
The afternoon program will vary by county office.
Location Options for Lake Ontario Fruit Program Enrollees
Wayne County CCE Program
Wayne County CCE is now offering the program online only. Email Mark Wiltberger at mw883@cornell.edu and he will set you up with the Zoom link. The program is here:
Other Options for Attending
This program is a collaboration between county CCE associations and the statewide Cornell Farm Business Management group. You are welcome to attend another county CCE association that is conducting the program. In addition, some CCE associations will provide a virtual option for attendees that would like to participate in the meeting from a remote location.
Listed below are some counties near the LOF region with a link to their event information and registration page and whether they are offering a virtual option for attendees:
| Genesee County CCE Program Virtual Option: No
|
| Erie County CCE Program http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/events/2021/10/26/solar-lease-meeting Virtual Option: Yes
|
| Ontario County CCE Program http://cceontario.org/events/2021/10/26/navigating-solar-lease-agreements Virtual Option: Yes
|
| Cayuga County CCE Program Virtual Option: Yes
|
| You can register for the program through the following participating CCE County Offices: Albany, Broome, Cayuga, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Renssalear, Saratoga, Schoharie, Senaca, St Lawrence, Suffolk, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates. Don't know the website address for your county office? Go to: https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension/local-offices. |
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Wayne County - Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam
April 2, 2026
Newark, NY
A Certification Exam will be administered on April 2nd by the DEC to Qualified Applicants.
2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series
February 27, 2026 : Session 1 - The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons Learned
The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025 - The first meetup will be conducted live on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:30pm (PST)/1:30pm (EST). The webinar will last 90 minutes. The format will include brief presentations by two SPARC scientists, followed by a packer/grower panel of industry leaders across North America. The meetup will conclude with an open discussion in a very inclusive virtual format. Viewers are invited to share solutions, ask questions, and interact with scientists and panelists. The program is free of charge.
June 11, 2026 : Session 2
Details to follow.
June 18, 2026
Details to follow.
June 25, 2026 : Session 4
Details to follow.
Cornell Fruit Field Day
July 30, 2026
Geneva, NY
Join Cornell researchers in Geneva for Fruit Field Day, returning after 10 years, to tour research plots, learn from experts—including Terence Robinson with 40+ years in tree fruit research—and explore the latest orchard technologies and practices.