by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 22, 2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it would restrict the use of federal subsidies for solar energy projects in favor of protecting farmland, but clean energy advocates say solar gives farmers a higher production value per acre than any traditional crop.
A press release from USDA notes specific funding programs can no longer be used for wind and solar projects. The action, the release said, furthers the department’s goal to end taxpayer support of “unaffordable and unreliable ‘green’ energy sources and ensure the supply chain consists of American products and manufacturing.”
