Grassley, Baldwin Work to Protect and Invest in Farmland Used for Renewable Energy Developments | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Grassley, Baldwin Work to Protect and Invest in Farmland Used for ... Senator Chuck Grassley
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Protecting Future Farmland Act: Preserving Land Stewardship and Promoting Renewable Energy
Introduction
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) are leading efforts to assess the impact of using farmland for both agricultural and energy production. The bipartisan Protecting Future Farmland Act aims to ensure that federal investment in renewable energy infrastructure, particularly solar energy projects in rural areas, preserves land stewardship and protects farmland for future generations.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Protecting Future Farmland Act aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Statement from Senator Grassley
Senator Grassley emphasizes the importance of ensuring that solar energy development does not harm Iowa’s valuable soil. He states, “I’m proud to introduce this bill to help the Heartland continue to lead the way in pursuing ag innovation and renewable resource development in a responsible manner.”
Statement from Senator Baldwin
Senator Baldwin highlights the need to support farmers’ land stewardship efforts and protect farmland critical to rural economies and national food security. She states, “I am proud to partner with my Republican colleague to lead legislation that will give our farmers who want to expand solar operations the tools they need to continue responsibly managing our soil, water, and nation’s heartland.”
Background
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. However, there is currently no coordinated federal strategy for managing land located beneath solar arrays. Concerns arise regarding the quality of agricultural land after a solar lease ends and the impact of energy installations on soil and water.
The Protecting Future Farmland Act
The Protecting Future Farmland Act addresses the need for oversight and preservation of farmland during renewable energy production. The key provisions of the act include:
- Prioritizing federal assistance (through the existing Rural Energy for America Program) to renewable energy projects that have soil, water, and vegetation management and conservation plans in place.
- Collecting data on the conversion of farmland to solar energy and directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deliver a report to Congress on the benefits and impacts of solar energy development on agricultural land.
- Authorizing the National Resources Conservation Service to develop best practices for protecting soil health and productivity during the siting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of solar energy systems on agricultural land.
- Authorizing the National Resources Conservation Service to provide technical assistance to farmers growing crops or managing grazing below or in tandem with solar energy systems.
- Defining “agrivoltaic system” as “a system under which solar energy production and agricultural production, including crop or animal production, occurs in an integrated manner on the same piece of land through the duration of a solar project.”
- Authorizing USDA to conduct a study on agrivoltaic systems’ compatibility, as well as a risk-benefit analysis.
Accessing the Bill
A one-page summary of the bill is available HERE, and the full text of the legislation is available HERE.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agriculture
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Promoting renewable energy sources
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
- Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
- Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture
- Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption
- Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
- Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality. | Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. | Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. | Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: grassley.senate.gov
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