Trump Policies Stall Solar on U.S. Farmlands

In the first year of President Donald Trump's second term, federal policy changes have stalled solar energy initiatives across American farmlands, freezing grants for rural renewable projects and shortening timelines for tax credits, leaving farmers and developers grappling with uncertainty and lost opportunities.

Kentucky sheep farmer Daniel Bell had planned to install rooftop solar panels on a new barn to power his expanding flock, far from existing power lines. He sought funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program, known as REAP, which provides grants and loans for renewable energy installations to cut utility costs for farmers, ranchers and rural businesses. However, the program has awarded no grants or loan guarantees this fiscal year, effectively halting new support amid administrative reviews.

The disruptions stem from two key rollbacks. REAP, established nearly two decades ago, has funded over 19,000 grants totaling more than $1.8 billion for thousands of renewable and energy efficiency projects nationwide. Boosted by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, it enjoyed bipartisan backing until recent scrutiny. In February 2025, the...