New studies and guidance would help farmers use solar panels while protecting their land
This bill would require the Department of Agriculture to study how farmers can grow crops or raise animals under solar panels, a practice called agrivoltaics. It would also create new guidelines to help protect farm soil when solar energy systems are built and operated. This means farmers and solar developers would get clearer information on how to combine these two uses of land.
Currently, there is no specific federal requirement for the Department of Agriculture to study agrivoltaic systems. There is also no comprehensive guidance on protecting soil health during solar energy development on farms. This means farmers and solar developers operate without a unified federal approach or research-backed best practices. If this bill passes, the Department of Agriculture would be required to define agrivoltaic systems, conduct extensive studies, establish research sites, and publish best practices for managing solar projects on agricultural land. This would help protect soil. The bill would also give permission for Congress to set aside $15 million each year for the government's budget years (October to September) 2027 through 2031 to fund these efforts.
HR 10605 · 119th Congress · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 9/10
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