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People & committees
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17] · D–IL
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Oct 5, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-24 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed SUNRAY for Energy Act would direct the Department of Agriculture to define and study systems that combine solar power with farming on the same land. It would establish research and demonstration sites and require public guidance on protecting agricultural soil where solar systems are installed. Agricultural producers would be the intended users of research and educational materials. The bill would authorize funding for the agrivoltaic work in Section 2, but would not itself appropriate that money. That authorization does not cover the soil guidance in Section 3.
This Act may be cited as the Securing and Understanding Our National Renewable Agriculture Yields for Energy Act or the SUNRAY for Energy Act.
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 solar project
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and farm and conservation groups, shall develop a definition of the term agrivoltaic system
The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and relevant experts, shall conduct a study on agrivoltaic systems
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
translate research findings into educational, outreach, and technical assistance materials for agricultural producers
develop both national and regionally relevant 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
make the guidance developed under paragraph (1) publicly available on the website of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The bill would require the Department of Agriculture to use its definition of an “agrivoltaic system” in all applicable department programs relating to these systems. The initial definition requires integrated solar and agricultural production on the same land throughout the solar project's duration and also includes a later definition developed under the bill.
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 programs of the Department of Agriculture relating to agrivoltaic systems.
The term agrivoltaic system— (i) 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 solar project; and (ii) includes any subsequent definition developed under subparagraph (B).
The Agriculture Secretary would develop a further definition in consultation with the Energy Secretary and farm and conservation groups. It would address incorporating these systems into conservation, agricultural risk management, renewable energy, federal agricultural purchasing, investment tax credit and other appropriate programs, and related Agriculture Department regulations. The Secretary would have to consider using or modifying the initial definition, regional conditions and existing state and local policies and definitions.
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— (I) Federal agricultural conservation programs; (II) Federal agricultural risk management programs, including Federal crop insurance; (III) Federal renewable energy programs; (IV) Federal agricultural procurement programs; (V) Federal investment tax credits; (VI) such other programs as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and (VII) the regulations of the Secretary relating to the programs described in subclauses (I) through (VI).
the Secretary shall consider— (I) using or modifying the definition under subparagraph (A)(i); (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.
The Agriculture Secretary would coordinate with the Energy Secretary and experts on a study of combined farming and solar systems. Its livestock research review would cover regional compatibility, panel height and spacing for grazing and shade, manure, fencing, animal handling and beekeeping. It would also assess animal breeding research needs.
The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and relevant experts, shall conduct a study on agrivoltaic systems
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
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
The study would review current research and research gaps on which crops work with different solar designs in different regions. Topics would include panel spacing and height for shade and farm equipment, crop yields, soil moisture, water availability and opportunities to sell crops at higher prices. It would also assess plant breeding research needs, including for specialty crops and crops that grow for multiple years.
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
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
The study would assess regional risks and benefits, economic feasibility at larger scales and which agricultural land is best or worst suited to these systems. It would compare their total greenhouse gas impact with solar systems that replace farming. These are required research questions, not established findings.
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
an assessment of the economic scalability of agrivoltaic systems across different agricultural land types, production systems, and regional markets
an assessment of the types of agricultural land best suited and worst suited for agrivoltaic systems
The study would examine how development could preserve or increase farming, improve agriculture's ability to withstand disruptions, retain prime farmland, expand rural economic opportunities, reduce farmland ownership by nonfarmers and support a wider variety of living things. These are objectives for the assessment, not guarantees that the systems would achieve them.
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
The study would assess special crop insurance and risk management needs, whether federal purchases could help create a market for products from these farms, and possible changes to existing federal conservation, agricultural risk management, renewable energy, agricultural purchasing and investment tax credit programs. This provision calls for assessing changes; it does not itself award insurance coverage, purchasing preferences or tax credits.
an assessment of the unique risk management and crop insurance needs of agrivoltaic systems
an assessment of how Federal procurement of agricultural products could help build a market for agricultural products from farms with agrivoltaic systems
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
Using the study, the Agriculture Secretary would develop a five-year plan for department research, extension, outreach, conservation and renewable energy activities. The plan would support combined farming and solar systems that do not displace agricultural production.
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.
The Agriculture Secretary would have to report the study results to the House Agriculture Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee within three years after enactment.
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).
The Agriculture Secretary would establish and maintain Agricultural Research Service research and demonstration sites across multiple regions, including arid, semi-arid and wet agricultural zones. Coordination would include the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and relevant Energy Department research programs. The sites would investigate and demonstrate systems intended to improve agricultural productivity, profitability and resilience, strengthen capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change, protect biodiversity and expand rural economic opportunities.
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.
The Agriculture Secretary would work with department climate hubs and extension programs to share findings and create educational, outreach and technical assistance materials for agricultural producers. The bill allows this collaboration to include cooperative agreements.
In establishing and maintaining the network described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall collaborate with climate hubs of the Department of Agriculture and extension programs to share research findings and translate research findings into educational, outreach, and technical assistance materials for agricultural producers, including through cooperative agreements.
The bill would authorize appropriations of $15 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 to carry out Section 2. This wording authorizes future funding but does not itself appropriate money. The stated funding period is not an express termination date for the research network or other duties.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
shall establish and maintain a network of research and demonstration sites operated by the Agricultural Research Service
Within one year after enactment, the Agriculture Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and collaborating with energy and rural development officials, would develop national and regional guidance for solar systems on agricultural land and publish it on the service's website. It would cover soil health and productivity from site selection through construction, operation and decommissioning, including soil carbon, water management, vegetation management and plants suitable for pollinators. Each topic would include regional considerations, and the Secretary could include other appropriate practices.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (referred to in this section as the Secretary), in collaboration with the Secretary of Energy (including the Solar Energy Technologies Office) and the national office of the rural development mission area of the Department of Agriculture, shall
develop both national and regionally relevant 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, which shall include— (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 appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture; and (B) regional considerations for each type of guidance described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (A)
make the guidance developed under paragraph (1) publicly available on the website of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The guidance would have to be updated at least every two years and kept complete and relevant to the maximum extent practicable, in coordination with the Energy Secretary. Reviews would require consultation with eligible participants, state technical committees, crop consultants, cooperative extension and land grant universities, nongovernmental organizations, industry and other qualified entities.
The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 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.
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 organizations, industry, and other qualified entities.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 5, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Agriculture on September 24, 2026. It does not establish what happened after that snapshot.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-05T21:23:06Z. 2026-09-24: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. 2026-09-24: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-24. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for a particular recipient or place was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This text-only conclusion does not establish formal earmark status or absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow carve-out, special exemption or preferential exception was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. Ordinary support for the program's intended beneficiaries does not alone qualify. This conclusion is limited to this version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 5, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI