Senator Marshall Applauds USDA’s Announcement to Protect US Farmland From Being Turned Into Solar Plants

Wichita – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), released a statement applauding Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ decision to stop using taxpayer dollars for solar panels on productive farmland. The USDA’s announcement also states that solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries will not be used in USDA projects.

“Transforming prime farmland into fields of solar panels drives up land prices on behalf of foreign investments, and limits production capabilities for surrounding farmers and ranchers. Taxpayers should not have to subsidize the transition of productive and useful farmland into a desert of solar panels,” said Senator Marshall. “I stand with Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration, who continue to show that they are fighting for rural America and putting our farmers and ranchers first.”

“Our prime farmland should not be wasted and replaced with green new deal subsidized solar panels. It has been disheartening to see our beautiful farmland displaced by solar projects, especially in rural areas that have strong agricultural heritage. One of the largest barriers of entry for new and young farmers is access to land. Subsidized solar farms have made it more difficult for farmers to access farmland by making it more expensive and less available,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “We are no longer allowing businesses to use your taxpayer dollars to fund solar projects on prime American farmland, and we will no longer allow solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries to be used in our USDA-funded projects.”

Senator Marshall has supported the Trump administration’s efforts to defend U.S. farmland and farmers from disruptions and foreign influence, including joining Secretary Rollins in standing up against foreign ownership of critical U.S. farmland and introducing legislation to protect it.

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Contact: Payton Fuller