Protect farmer energy independence: 20 organizations sign a letter denouncing a proposed rule targeting rural energy assistance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 30, 2026
Read the full sign-on letter here.
CONTACT
Dana Kuhnline, 513 601 9854, [email protected]
APPALACHIA — This week, a coalition of 20 Appalachian organizations signed a letter denouncing the Trump-Vance administration’s newly proposed rule that severely limits farmers’ access to benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program.
“The rule changes imply that farmers can’t make sensible business decisions about how much solar they want and where on their own land to place it,” said Dana Kuhnline, Program Director at ReImagine Appalachia. “Historically, the USDA has been a reliable partner to farmers and rural communities. However, USDA issued this rule as final before a public comment period opened, and implemented changes that make the REAP program much more burdensome and risky. Stakeholder input is key to the effectiveness of federal programs; the USDA should make revisions to this rule that reflect the knowledge and wisdom of the farmers and small businesses that make use of the program.”
REAP is a USDA program that awards grants and loans to help farmers and rural small businesses install renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. REAP funds can help pay for projects like HVAC systems, insulation, and renewable energy installations. The Appalachian coalition’s letter notes that when REAP passed as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, it had strong bipartisan backing, but the new changes would severely limit the cost-saving supports for rural communities.
The organizations that signed onto the letter aren’t alone in raising alarm about the program changes; earlier this week, 19 senators joined a letter expressing concern that the new rules go against the intent of REAP’s mission.
Titled “Unleashing American Energy and Economic Prosperity,” the USDA’s newly proposed rule would drastically reduce financial awards, limiting the full grant amount farmers can receive to 25% of project costs, reduced from 50%. Other items echo the Trump-Vance administration’s combative stance on solar energy. For example, it bars small rural businesses from installing ground-mounted solar outright. It also requires applicants to pay costs for any upgrade upfront and keep the project running for at least a year before they are eligible to compete for a grant that may never be awarded. This puts farmers and small business owners at high financial risk. Historically, 70% of REAP funding has supported solar projects, which many farmers install on their land (often in areas unsuitable for growing) to save on energy costs, protect grid stability and sustain their businesses.
The coalition also opposes the proposal to ban applicants from using equipment components manufactured by foreign adversary nations. This provision could disqualify whole systems over a single part, even if that equipment is assembled in an American factory. Instead, the letter invites a REAP rule structure that incentivizes purchasing American-made clean energy products through tax credits.
The letter cautions against stripping farmers and rural businesses of autonomy to choose how to source, install and scale energy and operations systems, emphasizing that farmers know best what their businesses need to thrive.
Signatories on the letter included: Appalachian Voices, Center for Progressive Reform, Community Climate Collaborative, Community Project Hub, Kentucky Environmental Foundation, MaGrann Associates, Mayor Patricia M. DeMarco, Ph.D., Borough of Forest Hills, PA, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, PennFuture, Protect Penn-Trafford, ReImagine Appalachia, Solar United Neighbors, West Virginia Citizen Action Group, West Virginia Environmental Council, Energy Efficiency Alliance, Warren Energy, Renew Rocktown, Rural Action, Rural Power Coalition, Energy Efficiency Empowerment
About ReImagine Appalachia
ReImagine Appalachia is a coalition working to ensure Appalachia is a leader in the clean energy economy and that the new economy creates good jobs and strengthens communities.
