Energy Department terminates loan for Grain Belt Express

Department of Energy 180x720.jpg

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
Iowa land values dropped 3% year-over-year. Sen. Chuck Grassley said this discomforting pattern is a harbinger of crisis for farmers, as seen in the 1980s.
Jed Bower, the incoming president of the National Corn Growers Association, joined us for his sector’s perspective on the ongoing government shutdown.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week said an announcement would be made on Tuesday. However, that self-imposed deadline has now passed.
Expect firm demand for dependable HRS and SW, steady movement in HRW, more sorting on SRW, and selective bids on durum until full milling results are released.
Dr. Todd Davis, Chief Economist with the Indiana Farm Bureau, shares a snapshot of his state’s harvest conditions and insights from producers.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Shaun Haney, Host of RealAg Radio, discusses President Trump’s move to halt trade talks with Canada and Mexico over a commercial about tariffs launched by the Government of Ontario.
Input costs are top of mind for farmers, as they contribute to higher prices and smaller profits.
The President’s trip to Asia this week follows a trade mission by the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmers say they were reminded that U.S. soybeans have an international reputation that can be easy to take for granted here at home.
She saw him play besides greats like Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, Conway Twitty, and more.
Farmers who rely on H-2A workers will see a few key changes to speed up the process and make it fairer. On the ground, producers say labor issues create shortfalls in otherwise productive harvests.
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.