In a bold move to prioritize American agriculture and national security, the Trump administration has effectively banned the use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize solar and wind projects on productive farmland. Announced on August 18, 2025, by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, this policy shift aims to protect prime agricultural land from being converted into energy installations, which critics argue undermines food production and benefits foreign adversaries like China.
🚨BIG NEWS for American Farmers!
I just announced in Lebanon, TN – effective immediately – American farmland will NO LONGER use taxpayer dollars to build solar farms.
Millions of acres of prime farmland is left unusable so Green New Deal subsidized solar panels can be built.… pic.twitter.com/YWMmVCHZ1t
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) August 18, 2025
This decision marks a stark reversal from the Biden era’s push for renewables on rural lands, redirecting focus toward supporting family farms and rural economies.
Secretary Brooke Rollins’ Announcements on X
Secretary Rollins, a key figure in the Trump administration and head of the USDA, has been vocal on X (formerly Twitter) about safeguarding American farmland. Her announcements emphasize an “America First” approach, highlighting the risks of subsidizing solar panels—many of which are manufactured in China—on fertile soil that could otherwise support crop production
On August 18, 2025, Rollins posted a major update from Lebanon, Tennessee, declaring: “BIG NEWS for American Farmers! I just announced… effective immediately – American farmland will NO LONGER use taxpayer dollars to build solar farms.” She detailed how millions of acres of prime farmland have been rendered unusable under previous policies, ending USDA programs that funded solar and wind on productive land and halting the use of foreign-made panels.
Accompanying photos and a short video showed her engaging with local farmers, underscoring the administration’s commitment to rural America. Earlier, on June 11, 2025, Rollins shared a video stating: “Farmland should grow and raise American agriculture — not be covered by solar panels. The Trump Admin is committed to protecting American Farmland.” This post, which garnered over 11,000 likes, set the tone for the policy, framing solar encroachment as a threat to agricultural heritage.
Rollins followed up on August 18 with another post from the FFA Ham Breakfast in Tennessee: “I LOVE YOU, TENNESSEE! What an amazing start to the week as we launched the next step of our protecting family farms plan by rescinding all programs building solar panels on our farmland.” She thanked President Trump for his “100-year vision to protect rural America,” using hashtags like #GoldenAge and #FarmSecurityIsNationalSecurity.
These posts have sparked widespread discussion, with supporters praising the move as a win for farmers and detractors viewing it as a setback for clean energy. Other X users amplified the message. For instance, RFD-TV posted a video interview with Rollins, quoting her on the need for “real change” in farmland policy.
Influencer Mario Nawfal summarized: “USDA TO WIND & SOLAR: GET OFF OUR LAWN,” noting the end of $2 billion in previous USDA funding for such projects.
Solar Installation in the United States: A Rapid Expansion
The U.S. has seen explosive growth in solar capacity over the past decade, driven largely by federal incentives and state mandates. As of the end of Q1 2025, the country installed 10.8 gigawatts direct current (GWdc) of new solar capacity, bringing the estimated cumulative total to around 220 GWdc across utility-scale, residential, commercial, and community solar segments.
This includes approximately 121 GW of utility-scale solar at the end of 2024, projected to rise to 153 GW by the end of 2025 with 32.5 GW of additions planned.
Solar represented 77.7% of new grid capacity additions in the first four months of 2025, totaling 9.5 GW out of 12.2 GW added.
Nationwide, solar energy production surged 26.4% from May 2024 to May 2025.
States like Texas and California lead, accounting for nearly half of 2025’s utility-scale additions.
However, this growth has raised concerns about land use, with vast tracts of farmland repurposed for panels, contributing to the Trump administration’s rationale for the subsidy ban. Biden Administration USDA Programs Focused on FarmlandsUnder the Biden administration, the USDA aggressively promoted renewable energy on farmlands through several programs, often funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These initiatives provided billions in grants, loans, and incentives to install solar panels and other renewables on agricultural land, aiming to lower energy costs and create rural jobs. Critics, including the current administration, argue they accelerated the conversion of productive farmland, prioritizing green energy over food security.
Key programs included:
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): This flagship program offered guaranteed loans and grants to agricultural producers and rural businesses for renewable energy systems, including solar and wind. It funded hundreds of projects, with over $1 billion in grants announced in 2023 alone for solar installations on farms.
Subcomponents like Energy Audits & Renewable Energy Development Assistance (REAP EA/REDA) and Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvements (REAP RES/EEI) directly supported solar on farmlands.
In 2024, approximately 450 solar projects received $65 million.
Empowering Rural America (New ERA): Provided low-interest loans (up to 60% forgiveness) to rural electric cooperatives and developers for large-scale renewables, including solar on farmland. It was part of broader IRA investments, with $124 million allocated in 2024 for clean energy and fertilizer projects across 44 states.
Rural Energy Pilot Program (REPP): Offered financial assistance to rural communities for renewable energy development, including solar and wind on agricultural lands.
Additional IRA-Funded Initiatives: Broader efforts like the $207 million investment in clean energy for rural businesses and farms in 2024, and partnerships for affordable clean energy announced in June and September 2024, funneled funds into solar projects.
These supported over 180,000 farms through climate-smart agriculture.
In total, at least four major USDA programs under Biden focused on promoting solar and renewables on farmlands, channeling billions in subsidies.
The Trump administration’s rollback ends this support, reallocating $89 million to rural development projects that preserve farming.
This policy underscores a shift toward energy independence and agricultural resilience, potentially reshaping the U.S. energy landscape while protecting the heartland’s vital resources. As solar continues to expand elsewhere, the debate over land use and subsidies is far from over.
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