HR 1592 ยท SOLAR Act
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- Introduced
- Feb 26, 2025
- Latest action
- Mar 28, 2025
- Sponsor
- Rep. Mike Bost [R-IL-12]
- Policy area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Cosponsors
- 5
Summary
Securing Our Lands and Resources Act or the SOLAR Act This 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 result in the conversion of (1) less than 5 acres of covered farmland, or (2) 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.
Recent actions
- Mar 28, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- Feb 26, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Feb 26, 2025 Introduced in House
- Feb 26, 2025 Introduced in House
Votes
No recorded votes are available for this bill.