Sec. 2504. Best practices guidance for solar energy land management
258 words·~1 min read·
/bill/118/s/5335/is/section-2504A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3841 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (referred to in this section as the Secretary ), in collaboration with the Secretary of Energy (including the Solar Energy Technologies Office) and the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, shall— develop both national and regionally relevant guidance on best practices for protection of soil health and productivity during the siting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of solar energy systems on agricultural land, which shall include— guidance for— soil carbon and soil health; water management; vegetation management, including types of plants best suited for pollinators; and other practices, as determined appropriate by the Secretary; and regional considerations for each type of guidance described in clauses
(i)through
(iv)of subparagraph (A); and make the guidance developed under paragraph
(1)publicly available on the website of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall— update guidance developed under subsection (a)(1) not less frequently than once every 2 years; and ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the completeness and relevance of that guidance. In conducting the review under subsection (b), the Secretary shall consult with eligible participants, State technical committees established under section 1261(a), crop consultants, cooperative extension and land grant universities, nongovernmental organizations, industry, and other qualified entities. .