U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Lead Push to Reinstate Energy Projects for Farmers, Small Businesses

Sixteen Senators are demanding the Trump Administration reverse canceling the bipartisan Rural Energy for America Program

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led fourteen colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration re-commit to funding energy projects across rural America through the bipartisan Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). In 2022 alone, REAP projects saved enough energy and generated enough energy to power over 250,000 homes. Roughly 70% of those projects could be deemed ineligible under the Administration's new arbitrary restrictions.

"Unleashing American energy and supporting American farmers are stated priorities of the Trump Administration. But this change would stifle American energy and hurt our farmers, who are already dealing with increasing costs of operation and uncertain access to markets. At a time like this, it is unconscionable to discourage the use of cost- and energy-saving wind and solar technologies that help to keep their businesses afloat" wrote the Senators.

"A REAP program that helps rural Americans invest in the best energy solution for them is a win for farmers' bottom line and for the lands that they steward. We urge you to remove these new restrictions on REAP," Senators concluded.

On August 18th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they will be restricting assistance for wind and solar projects previously authorized under REAP. The move will hurt the deployment of cheaper, cleaner energy projects at a time when rural energy costs continue to rise. The REAP program was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and has been reauthorized on a bipartisan basis multiple times since its creation.

Thousands of Minnesotan farmers, producers and entrepreneurs received REAP awards just last year, representing more than $50 million in investment for more than 470 energy projects that can help farms and small businesses save up tens of thousands of dollars per year. You can find examples of these projects and their projected savings here.

The letter was also signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

You can read full text of the letter here or below.

Dear Secretary Rollins,

We are very concerned about your August 18th announcement that USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) will be restricting assistance for cost-saving wind and solar technologies. We urge you to reverse course and maintain farmers' and rural small businesses' ability to deploy these critical technologies in the way that best suits their operations.

REAP's popularity and success is clear throughout its more than 20-year history. Since the components of the program were created in the bipartisan 2002 Farm Bill, REAP has helped more than 21,000 farms and rural businesses nationwide voluntarily access affordable, renewable energy and energy efficiency systems. In 2022 alone, REAP supported nearly 2,500 projects, helping farms and rural small businesses achieve combined estimated energy savings and energy generation to power more than 250,000 homes per year.

In many cases, these energy savings come from installing solar panels, because they are a reliable, cost-effective technology that allows farmers and rural small business owners to save on electricity bills. Beyond saving costs, distributed solar diversifies rural America's energy profile and sets up our rural communities to be resilient into the future. Whether energy infrastructure is at risk from natural disasters or national security breaches, these technologies help prepare rural communities for any scenario. It also puts more power directly into the hands of Americans and ensures a future of energy dominance.

As an example, just last year, Minnesotans received REAP awards for more than 470 energy projects, representing more than $50 million in investments that help save each farm or rural small business operation thousands of dollars per year. It appears that your announcement - and the associated internal memo - could threaten up to 70% of these kinds of projects in the future. And there are many, many more cost-saving projects that farmers are hoping to pursue in the funding rounds to come.

Unleashing American energy and supporting American farmers are stated priorities of the Trump Administration. But this change would stifle American energy and hurt our farmers, who are already dealing with increasing costs of operation and uncertain access to markets. At a time like this, it is unconscionable to discourage the use of cost- and energy-saving wind and solar technologies that help to keep their businesses afloat. REAP must continue to support all energy solutions farmers want, including distributed wind, rooftop solar, and ground-mounted solar, so that they can choose the right solution for their needs.

We request you provide written answers to the following questions by September 19, 2025:

1. Using REAP applications and awards issued since January 2020 as a sample of the breadth of applications USDA receives, how many awards issued in that timeframe would no longer be eligible or selected under the new criteria outlined in your announcement? For those projects that would not have been selected, please provide details on the total number of projects by state and the estimated lost energy- and cost-savings for the farmers and rural small businesses that would not have been able to deploy those projects under these new restrictions.
2. Is USDA committed to ensuring that annual cost-savings to farmers through REAP is maintained or increased going forward? Please indicate how USDA will achieve this goal while putting these restrictions in place.
3. How does USDA plan to clearly share information about these new restrictions with farmer and rural small business applicants? For example, how exactly will farmers be required to show "document[ed] historical energy usage" for a solar panel system to qualify for funding?
4. Does USDA have a plan to work with farmers and rural small businesses that are seeking to implement solar and wind projects on their lands to make sure their proposed projects are both eligible and competitively prioritized for REAP funding?

A REAP program that helps rural Americans invest in the best energy solution for them is a win for farmers' bottom line and for the lands that they steward. We urge you to remove these new restrictions on REAP. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. We look forward to receiving your prompt responses to our questions.