I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7391 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a study and research 
and demonstration on agrivoltaic systems and to issue guidance on best 
practices for protection of soil health and productivity during the siting, 
construction, operation, and decommissioning of solar energy systems 
on agricultural land. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 15, 2024 
Mr. SORENSEN (for himself, Ms. PINGREE, and Ms. CROCKETT) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a study 
and research and demonstration on agrivoltaic systems 
and to issue guidance on best practices for protection 
of soil health and productivity during the siting, con-
struction, operation, and decommissioning of solar energy 
systems on agricultural land. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing and Under-
standing our National Renewable Agriculture Yields for 
Energy Act’’ or the ‘‘SUNRAY for Energy Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEMS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
incorporate the definition of the term ‘‘agrivoltaic 
system’’ under paragraph (2) into all applicable pro-
grams of the Department of Agriculture relating to 
agrivoltaic systems. 
(2) DEFINITION OF AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘agrivoltaic 
system’’— 
(i) means a system under which solar 
energy production and agricultural produc-
tion, including crop or animal production, 
occurs in an integrated manner on the 
same piece of land through the duration of 
a solar project; and 
(ii) includes any subsequent definition 
developed under subparagraph (B). 
(B) SUBSEQUENT DEFINITION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—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 in-
corporation of agrivoltaic systems into— 
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structure, and market access for 
agrivoltaic system products; 
(III) existing State and local 
agrivoltaic system policies and defini-
tions; and 
(IV) such other factors as the 
Secretary determines to be appro-
priate. 
(b) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of Energy and relevant ex-
perts, 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 com-
patibility of different species of livestock with 
different agrivoltaic panel and agrivoltaic sys-
tem designs, including— 
(i) the optimal height of and distance 
between solar panels for— 
(I) livestock grazing; and 
(II) shade for livestock; 
(ii) manure management consider-
ations; 
(iii) fencing requirements; 
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(iv) other animal handling consider-
ations; and 
(v) the incorporation of apiculture; 
(B) an assessment of animal breeding re-
search needs with respect to beneficial and com-
patible characteristics and behaviors of different 
species of grazing animals in agrivoltaic sys-
tems; 
(C) a review of the current research and 
gaps in research relating to the regional com-
patibility 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 re-
search needs with respect to beneficial and com-
patible characteristics of different crops, includ-
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ing 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 sys-
tems and solar energy systems that displace ag-
ricultural production; 
(F) an assessment of the economic 
scalability of agrivoltaic systems across dif-
ferent agricultural land types, production sys-
tems, and regional markets; 
(G) an assessment of the types of agricul-
tural 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 agricul-
tural production; 
(ii) increasing agricultural resilience; 
(iii) retaining prime farmland; 
(iv) increasing economic opportunities 
in farming and rural communities; 
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(v) reducing nonfarmer ownership of 
farmland; and 
(vi) enhancing biodiversity; 
(I) an assessment of the unique risk man-
agement and crop insurance needs of agrivoltaic 
systems; 
(J) an assessment of how Federal procure-
ment of agricultural products could help build 
a market for agricultural products from farms 
with agrivoltaic systems; and 
(K) an assessment of appropriate modifica-
tions to better incorporate agrivoltaic systems 
into existing Federal— 
(i) 
agricultural 
conservation 
pro-
grams; 
(ii) agricultural risk management pro-
grams, including Federal crop insurance; 
(iii) renewable energy programs; 
(iv) agricultural procurement pro-
grams; 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, con-
servation, and renewable energy activities of the De-
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partment 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 Ag-
riculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
report containing the results of the study conducted 
under paragraph (1). 
(c) AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEM RESEARCH
AND DEM-
ONSTRATION.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Administrator of the Agricultural Re-
search Service and in coordination with the Director 
of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture 
and the relevant research programs of the Depart-
ment of Energy, shall establish and maintain a net-
work of research and demonstration sites operated 
by the Agricultural Research Service to investigate 
and demonstrate agrivoltaic systems in multiple re-
gions of the United States, including arid, semi-arid, 
and wet agricultural zones, that— 
(A) increase agricultural productivity and 
profitability; 
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(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 climate hubs of 
the Department of Agriculture and extension pro-
grams to share research findings and translate re-
search findings into educational, outreach, and tech-
nical assistance materials for agricultural producers, 
including through cooperative agreements. 
(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. 
SEC. 3. BEST PRACTICES GUIDANCE FOR SOLAR ENERGY 
LAND MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Secretary’’), in collaboration with the Secretary of En-
ergy (including the Solar Energy Technologies Office) and 
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the national office of the rural development mission area 
of the Department of Agriculture, shall— 
(1) develop both national and regionally rel-
evant guidance on best practices for protection of 
soil health and productivity during the siting, con-
struction, operation, and decommissioning of solar 
energy systems on agricultural land, which shall in-
clude— 
(A) guidance for— 
(i) soil carbon and soil health; 
(ii) water management; 
(iii) vegetation management, including 
types of plants best suited for pollinators; 
and 
(iv) other practices, as determined ap-
propriate by the Secretary of Agriculture; 
and 
(B) regional considerations for each type 
of guidance described in clauses (i) through (iv) 
of subparagraph (A); and 
(2) make the guidance developed under para-
graph (1) publicly available on the website of the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service. 
(b) REVIEW
REQUIRED.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
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Service, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, 
shall— 
(1) update guidance developed under subsection 
(a)(1) not less frequently than once every 2 years; 
and 
(2) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, 
the completeness and relevance of that guidance. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the review under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with eligible 
participants, State technical committees established under 
section 1261(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3861(a)), crop consultants, cooperative extension 
and land grant universities, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, industry, and other qualified entities. 
Æ 
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