Urge USDA to Reverse Decision on Renewable Energy Funding for Farmers

I am deeply concerned about the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cease funding for wind and solar energy projects on American farmland. This shortsighted policy change threatens not only our nation's progress towards clean energy but also jeopardizes a vital income stream for struggling farmers. The USDA's justification for this decision – preserving farmland for agricultural production – is fundamentally flawed. According to the USDA's own 2024 analysis, only about 0.05% of the country's total pasture, rangeland, and crop acres were used for wind and solar development. This minuscule land use pales in comparison to the acreage dedicated to biofuels, which ironically receives continued support under this new policy. As commodity prices fluctuate and climate-driven weather extremes increasingly threaten crop yields, many farmers have come to rely on income from wind and solar installations to maintain their livelihoods. By disqualifying these projects from the Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program and limiting funding under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), the USDA is effectively pulling the rug out from under hardworking American farmers. This decision appears to be part of a broader effort to undermine the progress made by the Inflation Reduction Act in expanding renewable energy. It's a step backward in our fight against climate change and our pursuit of energy independence. Furthermore, the policy's specific targeting of solar panels manufactured by "foreign adversaries" seems short-sighted, potentially limiting our ability to rapidly scale up renewable energy production. I urge you to take immediate action to reverse this harmful decision. Please press the USDA to reinstate funding for wind and solar projects on farmland. Our farmers need diverse income streams to weather economic uncertainties, and our nation needs a robust, multi-faceted approach to energy production that includes renewables. Let's support policies that benefit both our agricultural communities and our environment, ensuring a sustainable future for American farming and energy production.