Study on effects of solar panel installations on covered farmland

Title IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101–8115) is amended by adding at the end the following: 9015. 9014. Study on effects of solar panel installations on covered farmland (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall conduct a study on the effects of solar panel installations on the conversion of covered farmland out of agricultural production in accordance with this section. (b) Content In conducting the study under this section, the Secretary shall— (1) analyze the economic effects of solar panel installations on covered farmland, including the effects on— (A) crop yields; (B) land values, including adjacent properties; (C) land access and tenure; (D) local economies; and (E) food security; (2) investigate impacts of solar panel installation, operation, and decommissioning on covered farmland, and suggest best practices to protect— (A) soil health; (B) water resources; (C) wildlife; (D) vegetation; (E) water drainage; and (F) air quality; (3) assess the impacts of shared solar energy and agricultural production on covered farmland, including best practices to— (A) maintain or increase agricultural production; (B) increase agricultural resilience; (C) retain covered farmland; (D) increase economic opportunities in farming and rural communities, including new revenue streams and job creation; (E) reduce nonfarmer ownership of covered farmland; and (F) enhance biodiversity; (4) assess the types of agricultural land best suited and worst suited for shared solar energy and agricultural production; (5) study the compatibility of different species of livestock with different solar panel system designs, including— (A) the optimal height of and distance between solar panels for livestock grazing and shade for livestock; (B) manure management considerations; (C) fencing requirements; and (D) other animal handling animal-handling considerations; (6) study the compatibility of different crop types with different solar panel system designs, including— (A) the optimal height of and distance between solar panels for plant shading and farm equipment use; and (B) the impact on crop yield; (7) evaluate the degree to which existing Federal, State, or local tax incentives result in the development of covered farmland under study; (8) recommend effective incentives that could shift solar panel installations towards toward the built environment, brownfield sites, and other contaminated sites; (9) evaluate the effectiveness of programs administered by the federal government Federal Government related to solar energy development that— (A) results result in the development of contaminated lands, the built environment, and other preferred sites; and (B) discourages discourage solar panel installations that would convert covered farmland out of agricultural production; and (10) estimate the loss of agricultural production on covered farmland due to solar panel installations. (c) Consultation with relevant stakeholders In addition to consultation with the Secretary of Energy, while conducting the study under this section, the Secretary shall consult with— (1) farmers; (2) ranchers; (3) landowners; (4) agricultural organizations; (5) State departments of agriculture and energy; (6) units of local government; (7) conservation organizations; (8) land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)); and (9) solar developers. (d) Report Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, Senate a written report on the findings of the study and recommendations under this section. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered farmland The term covered farmland includes— (A) farmland, as defined in section 1540(c)(1) of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201(c)(1)); and (B) nonindustrial private forest land, as defined in section 201(a)(18) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)(18)). (2) Brownfield site The term brownfield site has the meaning given that term in section 101(39) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601(39)). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture..