Pulse of the Land - 8/18/2025
A brief for conservation and cleaner energy.
Government Spotlight
Has USDA ended REAP
The US Department of Agriculture announced the end of support for solar and wind energy projects on productive farmland and is stepping back from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP provides grants and guaranteed loans to support energy projects in rural areas. There is little detail on this as the announcement has only been on ‘X’ (Twitter).
Impact - Losing REAP removes a significant funding source and certainty for farm-based projects, but many paths remain. Including but not limited to leasing land to developers, power purchase agreements, profit sharing, and hosting community solar projects. There are other grant programs active through the Department of Energy Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS)
Clean Energy Rules: Stricter, But Manageable
The administration released new subsidy rules for clean energy projects that are much less stringent than expected. To qualify for a 30% federal tax credit on large-scale renewable energy projects, they must require proof of physical construction, rather than show they have invested capital. There was fear that new rules would result in a narrower timeline for claiming subsidies or that developers would have to incur a large percentage of project costs to be eligible for credits.
Opinion—This makes it more challenging to get the tax credits, which is negative for the growth of solar and wind, but it would welcome a bit more predictability and reliability that projects are more than just ideas.
The State of Public Lands
Federal Budget Shortfalls
A growing coalition of environmental organizations is sounding the alarm on public lands nationwide, highlighting unsanitary facilities, neglected trail systems, and heightened uncontrollable wildfire risks. This is due to workforce reductions and funding cuts at the Forest Service and National Park Service. For instance, Colorado’s White River National Forrest lost 29% of its full-time staff. Minor impacts are starting to appear, but this is likened to skipping vital car maintenance… without routine, proactive maintenance, future repairs will be costlier and more damaging.
Legal Showdown Over Chuckwalla National Monument
Tensions are heating up over managing a new landmark in Southern California. The Texas Public Policy Foundation, joined by mining and off-road vehicle interests, has filed a lawsuit arguing the Chuckwalla National Monument designation, which protects culturally and historically significant desert terrain, is an overreach under the Antiquities Act. In response, nine groups have rallied to defend the site, emphasizing the monument's value for preserving Indigenous cultural sites, rare ecosystems, and regional outdoor recreation.
Opinion - Public lands are routinely taken away and rarely added. When there is the opportunity to grow the public lands footprint, it should be made possible. I believe in protecting biodiversity, preserving cultural sites, and keeping access for outdoor recreation.
Clean Energy Projects in the News
Idaho Lava Ridge Wind Project Reversed.
The Interior Department canceled the approvals of the Lava Ridge Wind Project, a 1,000 MW wind farm near a sensitive area in Idaho. Citing impacts to rural communities and cultural concerns. Concerned parties included:
The Friends of Minidota and Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee, citing visual and emotional disruption to the Minidoka National Historic Site, where Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated during WWII.
Wildlife and Conservation Advocates (Idaho Wildlife Federation, Idaho Conservation League, among others) raised concerns over 486 miles of roads and 395 miles of fencing that would fragment the habitat of sage-grouse, pronghorn, mule deer, and elk, in what is already a fragile high desert ecosystem.
Opinion - The first step in ALL energy projects (clean or not) should be to meet with local communities and gather feedback. Energy projects will always impact communities and wildlife, so it is key to get input from locals and experts on the matter first to come up with a mitigation plan or location change.