USDA Halts Funding for Solar Projects on Prime Agricultural Land

Government Initiative to Protect Farmland

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a significant change in policy concerning solar energy projects on agricultural land. During a press conference with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and other senators, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins revealed plans to suspend government funding for solar panel installations on prime farmland.

This decision arises from concerns that subsidized solar farms have escalated land costs, making it more challenging for farmers to procure agriculture. Over the past three decades, Tennessee has seen a loss of over 1.2 million acres of farmland, with expectations of losing an additional 2 million acres by 2027.

Statement from USDA Secretary

“Our prime farmland should not be wasted and replaced with Green New Deal-subsidized solar panels,” stated Secretary Rollins. She elaborated on the negative impact solar projects have had, particularly in rural regions with rich agricultural heritage. New farmers often face barriers in accessing land, exacerbated by the rising costs linked to these solar developments.

“We will no longer allow taxpayer dollars to fund solar projects on prime American farmland. Additionally, solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries will be excluded from USDA projects,” Rollins added.

Support from State Leadership

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee expressed his support, stating: “Tennesseans understand that our farmland is integral to our national security, economic future, and cultural heritage. We were honored to welcome Secretary Rollins to Tennessee and appreciate her leadership in safeguarding our farmland and food supply from foreign threats.”

New Regulations and Eligibility Criteria

The new USDA measures include:

• Exclusion of wind and solar projects from the USDA Rural Development Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program.

• The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) will ensure that farmers and ranchers using wind and solar energy are implementing systems sized appropriately for their needs. Applications proposing ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems larger than 50 kW or lacking documentation of historical energy usage will not qualify for the REAP Guaranteed Loan Program. Furthermore, priority points will no longer be awarded for these grants.

Source: USDA