SOLAR Act

This bill would stop the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from giving loans or grants to projects that turn important farmland into sites for ground‑mounted solar panels. “Covered farmland” includes prime farmland, unique farmland, and land important to a state or local area. “Conversion” means a change that makes the land no longer meet a state’s rules for farm use .

Some projects could still get USDA funding. Small projects that convert under 5 acres, or projects under 50 acres if most of the power is used on the farm, are allowed. Projects with formal approval from each county and town where they’re built may also qualify—but they must create and follow a farmland conservation plan that protects soil during building and operation, set aside money to remove the solar system later, and restore the land to its prior condition. USDA can hold back funds until these steps are in place, and if a project doesn’t follow the plan, it must pay back all USDA money.

• Who is affected: Farmers, rural communities, and solar developers seeking USDA funding for projects on farmland.
• What changes: USDA funding is largely blocked for solar projects that convert covered farmland, with narrow exceptions for small or on‑farm‑use projects, or those with local approval and a soil‑protection plan. Projects must budget for decommissioning and land restoration, or risk having to repay the funds .
• When: Would apply if this becomes law (no specific start date is stated in the text).