The Department of Energy has scrapped a nearly $5 billion loan program for the Grain Belt Express, a nearly 600-mile-long electric line for wind & solar projects out of the Midwest.
The Department says it was a project “rushed out the door” in the final days of the Biden Administration. It also says the conditions necessary to issue the $4.9 billion loan are unlikely to be met, and it is not critical for the federal government to play a role in the project.
The Grain Belt Express was intended to connect wind and solar facilities across Kansas and Missouri. Senator Josh Hawley previously said the 600-mile project would put farmers in danger of losing land.
Related Stories
Colin Reilly with Connected Nation joined RFD-TV News to explain how the tool works and why it’s an important step in bridging the digital divide.
In a final rule published in the Federal Register, the Department states that it will no longer base wage rates on the Farm Labor Survey.
“In the first six months of 2025, 181 Chapter 12 bankruptcies were filed nationwide.”
Farmers are in the midst of harvest as the government descends into a shutdown and the Farm Bill expires. Key federal departments, crop reporting, and aid programs important to the agricultural sector are now on hold.
Jeramy Stephens, with National Land Realty, says that despite today’s economic headwinds, farmland remains a resilient asset — and understanding local conditions is key to making sound decisions.