House farm bill proposal threatens solar energy lifeline for struggling US farms
By
Lela Nargi
9h ago· 8 min readenNews
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Summary
The article examines how solar energy has become a critical financial lifeline for struggling US farms, using the example of George Hunt's dairy farm in Massachusetts which benefited from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and state solar credits. However, the House version of the farm bill proposes limiting solar panel installations on farmland, which could threaten the economic viability of many farms that have come to rely on solar energy to offset electricity costs and stay afloat during financial hardship.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledSolar was 'hot' back then, thanks to federal and state commitments to increase renewable energy supplies.
When Hunt crunched the numbers, he found that adding solar panels to that roof would be a financial boon to his struggling dairy.
He applied for a Rural Energy for America Program (Reap) grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which covered about a third of the cost; he borrowed the rest and mostly paid that loan off with a solar energy credit he received from the state of Massachusetts.
Installing solar panels to offset electricity costs helps farms during financial strain. But the House version of the farm bill would limit their use
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