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Takeaways from AP-Grist reporting on federal support for rural renewable energy

On March 31, the USDA suspended all Rural Energy for America Program grant awards to update regulations complying with a Trump executive order, leaving no new agreements awarded this fiscal year.
Since Trump's return to the White House, the administration has prioritized fossil fuels over renewables, sharply rolling back REAP funding that was previously supercharged by the Inflation Reduction Act.
A Grist-AP analysis identified at least 126 solar projects awaiting regulatory approval on or near farmland, while Kentucky sheep farmer Daniel Bell could not secure grants for his rooftop solar plans.
Robert Bonnie, former USDA undersecretary, warned that retreating from renewables harms rural America, noting projects matter for farmers' "pocketbooks" by lowering utility costs.
Developers are abandoning projects because commercial solar installations must be under construction by July 2026 to qualify for tax credits, tightening timelines that threaten renewable growth.

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Takeaways from AP-Grist reporting on federal support for rural renewable energy - The Morning Sun

Farming in America can be a tough business, and for some producers, finding more affordable energy can make the difference between profit and loss. But getting federal support to help them do that with renewables has become much more difficult since Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, instead promoting fossil fuels that he says are essential to American energy dominance. The Associated Press and …

2 days ago·Pittsburg, United States

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