# Plain Language Summary of the SOLAR Act

This bill prevents the U.S. Department of Agriculture from giving money to solar energy projects that would convert farmland into solar farms. In other words, if a farmer or developer wants to use USDA funding to build ground-mounted solar panels on productive agricultural land, they won't be able to get that federal money. The bill is designed to protect farmland from being permanently converted away from food and crop production.

However, the bill does allow some exceptions. Small solar projects under 5 acres can still get USDA funding without any special requirements. Projects between 5 and 50 acres can also qualify if most of the electricity generated stays on the farm for the farmer's own use rather than being sold to the grid. Additionally, any solar project can proceed with USDA funding if it gets official approval from the county and municipality where it would be built—essentially getting local government sign-off.

For projects that do get local approval, there's an important catch: developers must create a detailed plan to protect soil health during construction and operation of the solar farm, and they must set aside enough money to remove the solar panels and restore the farmland back to its original condition when the project ends. If a project fails to follow through on this restoration plan, the developer has to pay back all the USDA money they received. This requirement ensures that farmland can potentially return to agricultural use after a solar project concludes, rather than being permanently damaged or abandoned.

SOLAR Act

Bost, Mike

Securing Our Lands and Resources Act or the SOLAR ActThis bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture from providing financial assistance for certain projects that would result in the conversion of covered farmland for solar energy production.Under the bill, covered farmland generally refers to prime farmland, unique farmland, and farmland that is of statewide or local importance. Conversion means any activity that results in the covered farmland no longer meeting certain requirements for agricultural production, activity, or use.The bill includes an exception for certain smaller projects that&nbsp;result in&nbsp;the conversion of (1) less than 5 acres of covered farmland, or (2)&nbsp;less than 50 acres of covered farmland if the majority of the energy produced by the project is for on-farm use.The bill also includes an exception for projects that have the approval or support from the local county and municipality. For these projects, the applicant must (1) develop a farmland conservation plan for the project (e.g., implementing best practices to protect future soil health and productivity), and (2) ensure that sufficient funds are provided for the decommissioning of the solar energy production system and the remediation and restoration of the farmland.