Carbondale Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) has put forth a new bill known as the SOLAR Act, aiming to safeguard farm land by regulating solar panel projects on prime and unique farmland. The legislation, if passed, would ensure that rural communities have a voice in the approval process for such projects while granting farmers the freedom to embrace renewable energy solutions on their lands.

In a statement, Bost expressed his concerns about the diminishing farmland, stating, "We are losing precious and productive farmland that is being used up, acre after acre." He highlighted the profound impact of this loss on America's agricultural supply chain, food security, and local economies. Bost emphasized the significance of allowing local communities to have a say in determining the suitability of land for solar projects, a decision that has often been centralized in bureaucratic entities.

The SOLAR Act also includes provisions mandating funding recipients to have soil remediation plans and the financial means to remove solar panels upon project completion. Bost stressed the importance of empowering local communities, stating, "My legislation puts the power back into the hands of our local communities by allowing them to determine what's best for the area, not bureaucrats in Springfield."

The introduction of this bill follows a significant development in Illinois, where zoning authority was removed from local governments concerning the approval of solar panel projects in January 2023. The SOLAR Act represents an effort to balance the implementation of solar energy projects with the preservation of valuable farmland and the interests of local communities.

For more information on the SOLAR Act, the full text of the bill can be accessed at: https://bost.house.gov/2024/4/bost-introduces-bill-protecting-farm-land