Tiffany re-introduces bill to eliminate farm subsidy for solar projects

Yahoo

04-03-2025

CHIPPEWA FALLS — U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has reintroduced legislation that would eliminate most subsidies for solar and wind energy projects on farm land. The measure is titled Future Agricultural Retention and Management (FARM) Act.
Tiffany, R-Minocqua, said he doesn't want land that is producing food to be taken out of production so it can instead produce energy.
'Taxpayer dollars shouldn't be used to sacrifice farmland for green energy boondoggles,' Tiffany wrote in a press release last week announcing the bill. 'The FARM Act ends corporate welfare for unreliable energy sources and ensures agricultural land is protected for future generations.'
The bill, H.R. 1754, has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. farmland acreage has decreased more than 20 million acres between 2017 and 2022. Between this same period, all but five states (Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, and Rhode Island) lost farms.
Tiffany said he has heard from numerous constituents who fear too much farmland is being taken away.
'Instead of forcing taxpayers to underwrite generous green energy giveaways that often take farmland out of production, the Farm Act would protect family farms for generations to come, save American farmland, and safeguard long-term food security,' the press release states.
The FARM Act does not prevent developers from building wind turbines or solar panels. However, it does prevent taxpayer funds from tipping the scales in favor of wind and solar development at the expense of food production. According to a report by the Office of Tax Analysis at the Treasury Department, renewable subsidies — including wind and solar — will cost taxpayers $424.6 billion over the next decade.
Tiffany first introduced this legislation in 2022. He explained at that time that utility companies who are putting solar and wind projects on farm land are driving up the price for renting property, because they are getting the subsidy they use to pay for the land.
'Because of the subsidy, it is distorting the marketplace,' Tiffany said at the time.
Tiffany said it is important to keep all farm land in production.
'Growing our own food is going to be one of the most important things for our country's national security,' Tiffany told the Leader-Telegram. 'I'm alarmed we are going to take productive farmland out of production.'
With Republicans now controlling both the U.S. House and Senate as well as the presidency, the bill has a stronger chance of becoming law this time. The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Ben Cline (VA-06), Warren Davidson (OH-08), and Roger Williams (TX-25).
Tiffany, who represents the Seventh Congressional District that covers northwest Wisconsin including most of Chippewa County except for Chippewa Falls, was elected in May 2020, replacing Sean Duffy, who is now secretary of the Department of Transportation.