Bill > HR7923

This bill, the Securing Our Lands and Resources Act (or SOLAR Act), seeks to limit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from providing financial assistance for projects that would result in the conversion of "covered farmland" (defined as farmland protected under the Farmland Protection Policy Act) for the purpose of solar energy production. The bill includes an exception for projects that would convert a de minimis amount (less than 5 acres or 1 acre) of covered farmland, as long as the project receives support from local authorities. The bill also requires that projects which are eligible for the exception develop and implement a mitigation and remediation plan to protect soil health and productivity, mitigate erosion and compaction, and restore the farmland to its pre-project condition upon decommissioning of the solar energy system. Failure to comply with the mitigation and remediation plan would result in the project owner having to repay the USDA financial assistance.