Over the past few years, Kentucky sheep farmer Daniel Bell has been expanding his flock. Eventually, that meant he needed to build a new barn. His land is far from the power lines he’d need to heat it, so he figured rooftop solar would be ideal.
To help pay for it, he wanted to apply for a renewable energy grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights the tangible, often devastating impact of federal policy shifts on rural farmers and renewable energy developers. The article effectively documents how the rollback of REAP and clean energy tax credits under the Trump administration has disrupted livelihoods, stalled projects, and created financial uncertainty for those who had planned investments based on prior federal commitments. It gives voice to farmers like Daniel Bell and Elisa Lane, whos...