BREAKING: USDA halts taxpayer-funded solar panels on farmland—protecting food security and national sovereignty

By willowt // 2025-08-21

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USDA bans taxpayer-funded solar projects on productive farmland, reversing a decade-long trend of agricultural land loss to subsidized "green" energy schemes.
Tennessee alone has lost 1.2 million acres of farmland in 30 years to solar development, with projections of 2 million acres lost by 2027.
Foreign adversary-made solar panels (e.g., China) are now prohibited in USDA-funded projects, aligning with "America First" energy and national security priorities.
Policy shifts include stricter eligibility for USDA loans, capping solar projects at 50kW and eliminating subsidies for large-scale industrial solar farms.
Bipartisan praise from lawmakers hails the move as a victory for food security, rural economies and taxpayer accountability.

In a sweeping reversal of Green New Deal-era energy policies, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will immediately cease funding solar panel projects on productive farmland—a decision celebrated by farmers, rural lawmakers and fiscal conservatives as a long-overdue correction to years of misguided subsidies. Speaking at an event in Lebanon, Tennessee, alongside Governor Bill Lee and a bipartisan delegation of congressional leaders, Rollins declared that taxpayer dollars will no longer bankroll solar or wind projects on agricultural land, nor will USDA programs permit the use of solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries like China. The policy shift comes as data reveals a staggering loss of farmland to renewable energy development: Tennessee has lost over 1.2 million acres in the past 30 years, with projections indicating another 800,000 acres could vanish by 2027 if trends continue.

"This destruction of our farms and prime soil is taking away the futures of the next generation of farmers and the future of our country," Rollins posted on X (formerly Twitter). "Starting today, USDA will no longer deploy programs to fund solar or wind projects on productive farmland, ending massive taxpayer handouts."

The decision extends beyond Tennessee. Nationwide, solar panels on farmland have surged by nearly 50% since 2012, according to USDA data, with 47% of utility-scale solar projects now sited on agricultural land—a direct consequence of federal and state subsidies incentivizing renewable energy over food production. Critics argue these policies, rooted in the Green New Deal’s push for rapid decarbonization, have distorted land markets, making it harder and more expensive for young farmers to acquire arable land.

"One of the largest barriers of entry for new and young farmers is access to land," Rollins emphasized. "Subsidized solar farms have made it more difficult for farmers to access farmland by making it more expensive and less available."

Food security vs. green energy experiments

The USDA’s announcement marks a fundamental shift in federal priorities, prioritizing domestic food production and energy independence over what criics call "unreliable green energy experiments" subsidized by taxpayers. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader America First energy agenda, which has sought to roll back climate-related mandates that opponents argue threaten U.S. agricultural sovereignty. Key aspects of the new policy include:

Elimination of USDA-backed loans for large-scale solar projects on farmland, including the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which will now cap solar photovoltaic systems at 50kW—effectively ending subsidies for industrial-scale solar farms.
Prohibition on foreign-made solar panels in USDA-funded projects, a direct rebuke to China’s dominance in the solar supply chain.
Reallocation of resources to support small-scale, farmer-owned renewable energy projects that do not displace crop production.

"We can’t afford to lose [farmland] to foreign-made solar panels," said Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), a former USDA trade negotiator under President Trump. "For generations, Tennessee farmers have fed and fueled this nation, and that legacy must be preserved."

The policy change also reflects growing bipartisan concern over China’s influence in U.S. energy infrastructure. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) applauded the move, stating: "Ending wasteful taxpayer Green New Scam subsidies that have driven up energy costs and taken farmland out of production are long overdue."

A rural rebellion: Lawmakers and farmers applaud the shift

The USDA’s decision has unified rural lawmakers across the political spectrum, many of whom have long warned that solar subsidies were undermining America’s food supply. Among the most vocal supporters:

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.): "Tennessee farmland should be used to grow the crops that feed our state and country, not to house solar panels made by foreign countries like Communist China."
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.): "The land that feeds America should never be sacrificed for unreliable green energy experiments subsidized by taxpayer dollars."
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.): "There is no such thing as a solar farm. It is a waste of one of our most precious resources—our land."
House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-Pa.): "Food security is national security, and preserving prime farmland for agricultural production is a key component of protecting our food supply."

The announcement follows similar rollbacks by other federal agencies, including the EPA’s rescission of $7 billion in Solar for All community grants and the Department of the Interior’s expanded leasing for oil and gas production—signaling a broader administration-wide pivot away from Green New Deal policies.

The economic and strategic implications

The USDA’s policy shift carries far-reaching economic and geopolitical consequences:

Food Prices and Supply Stability: With global food demand expected to rise 60% by 2050, preserving arable land is critical to preventing shortages and price spikes.
Energy Independence: By reducing reliance on Chinese solar panels, the U.S. strengthens its domestic manufacturing base and supply chain resilience.
Rural Economic Revival: Farmers and ranchers will face less competition for land, lowering costs for new entrants and supporting the next generation of agricultural producers.
Pushback Against ESG Mandates: The move challenges the environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment trends that have pressured banks and corporations to divest from fossil fuels and traditional agriculture.

"Competition is the American way," said Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.), a small business owner. "By leveling the playing field, USDA is ensuring an abundant energy future for Tennessee and beyond—without sacrificing our farmland."

A return to common sense: Why this policy change was necessary

For years, farmers and rural communities have sounded the alarm over the rapid conversion of farmland to solar fields, often without local input or economic benefit. In states like Tennessee, Indiana and Iowa, where agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, the loss of productive land has threatened livelihoods and food security. The USDA’s decision restores balance by:

Protecting prime farmland from speculative energy projects.
Ensuring taxpayer dollars are not wasted on subsidies that distort markets and benefit foreign manufacturers.
Empowering farmers to adopt small-scale renewable energy on their own terms—without displacing crops.

"This is about more than energy—it’s about preserving our way of life," said Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.). "Our agricultural heritage is the backbone of this nation, and these commonsense reforms put food security, national security and American sovereignty first."

The road ahead: What’s next for U.S. farmland and energy policy?

While the USDA’s announcement is a major victory for agricultural advocates, challenges remain:

State-level solar subsidies may still incentivize farmland conversion in some regions.
Legal challenges from renewable energy lobbyists could test the policy’s durability.
The need for alternative energy solutions that do not compete with food production will require innovation in agrivoltaics (dual-use solar farming) and small-scale renewables.

However, the immediate impact is clear: Millions of acres of farmland are now protected from industrial solar development, and taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for Green New Deal experiments that undermine food security. As Secretary Rollins succinctly put it: "Farm security is national security."

A new chapter for American agriculture

In an era of geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions and rising food prices, the USDA’s decision to prioritize farmland over foreign-made solar panels is more than a policy shift—it’s a reaffirmation of America’s agricultural roots. For farmers like those in Tennessee’s Wilson County, where the announcement was made, the change means one less threat to their livelihoods. For taxpayers, it means an end to wasteful subsidies that lined the pockets of renewable energy developers while driving up costs for consumers. And for future generations, it ensures that the land which feeds America remains in the hands of those who till it—not those who pave it. In the words of Governor Bill Lee: "Tennesseans know that our farmland is our national security, our economic future and our children’s heritage. We are grateful for Secretary Rollins’ leadership in defending America’s farmland from foreign adversaries and protecting our food supply." With this decision, the USDA has drawn a line in the soil—one that puts America’s farmers, food security and sovereignty first. Sources for this article include: JustTheNews.com X.com USDA.gov CBS19.com