Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have introduced the Protecting Future Farmland Act designed to support farmers’ land stewardship efforts as many choose to deploy solar energy on their land.

Agricultural landowners are increasingly interested in using their land for solar energy production. About 83 percent of new solar projects are installed on farmland and ranchland, with almost 50 percent placed on the most productive, versatile, and resilient land.

“We need to support our farmers’ land stewardship efforts and help them protect the farmland that is critical to the future of our rural economies and national food security,” said Baldwin.

“We must be certain that embracing solar doesn’t damage our most valuable commodity: our rich Iowa soil,” Grassley added.