Prohibition on agency funding for covered solar energy projects

(a) In general The head of a Federal agency may not use Federal funds, including by providing funds, a loan, or a loan guarantee to any person, to carry out a covered solar energy project that would result in the conversion of prime farmland. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Conversion The term conversion means, with respect to prime farmland, any activity that results in the farmland failing to meet the requirements of a State (as such term is defined in section 343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991)) for agricultural production, activity, or use. (2) Covered solar energy project The term covered solar energy project means a project for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a ground-mounted facility for the generation of electricity from solar energy, primarily for the purpose of sale of such electricity. (3) Federal agency The term Federal agency has the meaning given the term agency in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. (4) Prime farmland The term prime farmland means farmland described in section 1540(c)(1)(A) of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201(c)(1)(A)).