Protecting American Farmland Act

This bill aims to protect top-quality farmland by limiting big solar projects on it. It would stop federal agencies from using money, loans, or loan guarantees for ground-mounted solar farms that would “convert” prime farmland, meaning the land would no longer meet state rules for farming use. It applies to ground-mounted projects that generate power mainly to sell. Prime farmland is defined by federal law.

It would also remove federal tax breaks for solar built on prime farmland. Home solar on prime farmland would not get the residential clean energy credit, and larger solar projects on prime farmland would lose key production and investment credits. These changes would apply going forward, not to systems already in service before the law takes effect.

• Who is affected: Farmers and rural communities with prime farmland, solar developers, and homeowners who live on prime farmland.
• What changes: No federal funding for certain ground-mounted solar that would convert prime farmland; no federal clean energy tax credits for solar systems placed on prime farmland (including residential, production, and investment credits).
• When: Applies to property and facilities placed in service after the law is enacted.