The recent action by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to pause federal subsidies for solar panels on prime farmland is more than a regulatory adjustment, it is a statement of purpose. It is a recommitment to two core American priorities: preserving our agricultural strength and securing our energy future. As Chair of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, I strongly support an approach to energy rooted in national security, economic strength, and state-led innovation. Secretary Rollins’ decision aligns with that vision by reinforcing the idea that energy policy must not come at the expense of the very land that feeds and sustains this nation. America’s strength has always come from its land, whether through abundant natural resources or the farmers and workers who keep our nation moving. Secretary Rollins is right to ensure that the heartland is not sacrificed in the name of poorly planned subsidies or foreign supply chains. Energy leadership means producing more American energy, on American soil, using American labor and materials. That is why the USDA’s decision to block taxpayer dollars from subsidizing solar panels made in adversarial nations is so important. When we rely on panels from Beijing, we weaken our strategic position. When we empower American workers and producers, we strengthen it. Our position in Mississippi is not anti-solar. We recognize the value of solar for private use, whether by homeowners, farmers, or businesses that choose to invest in panels for their own energy needs. But the future of energy is not going to be built on large footprints of unreliable sources that take prime farmland out of production and raise costs for families. It will be built on resources that are dependable, affordable, and American-made. In Mississippi, we are focused on energy sources that are 100% reliable, 100% of the time, such as nuclear and natural gas. Families and businesses cannot afford to depend on intermittent sources that fail when the sun doesn’t shine, or the wind doesn’t blow. Reliability is not optional; it is the foundation of economic growth, national security, and quality of life. We are also committed to regulatory clarity, something that investors, utilities, and ratepayers all deserve. We support innovation, but not confusion. We support clean energy but not mandates that ignore economic reality. Secretary Rollins is taking the right step by aligning USDA policy with the Trump Administration’s broader goal of strengthening America’s energy security. This move is pro-America! It recognizes that energy policy is a national security policy. It recognizes that farmland is a strategic infrastructure. And it affirms that taxpayer dollars should serve American priorities, not subsidize foreign supply chains. Energy leadership does not happen by accident, it happens through deliberate, strategic decisions that protect what matters and build what is needed. The USDA’s updated policy is one of those decisions. It puts America first, our farmers first, and our energy future on stronger footing. Mississippi stands ready to lead in that future, with policies that are pro-growth, pro-family, and pro-American energy.
