E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Marisa Reuber
Thursday, February 24, 2011

www.nass.usda.gov/ny



                     2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey

The 2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey counted 202 farms in New York that produced 
renewable energy on their operations, according to King Whetstone, Director of USDA’s National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), New York Field Office.  These farms saved an average of $5,067 on 
their utility bills in 2009.  In New York, there were 58 operations reporting 65 wind turbines that were owned 
and operated by farmers.  There were also 156 operations using solar panels to generate energy.  New York 
farms reported owning and operating 16 methane digesters, ranking second nationally behind Wisconsin.



This survey, conducted as a follow-on to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, gathered information about energy 
production using wind turbines, solar panels, and methane digesters on American farms.  This is the first 
step in a comprehensive effort by NASS to collect and publish detailed data on the agriculture sector’s 
contribution in the production and use of renewable energy.



Complete results of the 2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey are available online at 
www.agcensus.usda.gov.  Tables are available as PDF, Text, or CSV files. For further information or 
assistance, please call the New York office at 800-821-1276 or send an e-mail to: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov.

                                                
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2-24-11