Trump appoints Rich envoy to oppose solar, wind projects
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President Trump has named John Rich, a country music artist and songwriter who also owns a whiskey company, as special envoy for American landowners, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a news release on Wednesday.
USDA said Rich “will engage directly with landowners across the country and work to address challenges posed by government overreach, activist pressure campaigns, and outside interests that threaten private property rights and the long-term viability of rural communities.”
USDA added, “A key focus of Rich’s work will be advocating for landowners facing pressure related to large-scale solar and wind development that may impact productive farmland, ranchland, and rural livelihoods.”
In February, Rich joined Rollins and other administration officials when she announced the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework, which she described as “a bold initiative to protect America’s agricultural heritage and defend farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers from politically motivated lawfare.”
In that announcement, Rich said, “Being a landowner is a foundational tenet of what it means to be an American. For far too long, powerful companies and agencies have treated American landowners as nothing more than lowly peasants who stand in the way of them and their billions. Their long train of abuses and unconstitutional actions will be tolerated no more. This ends today.”
Rollins expressed concerns about solar energy projects on Wednesday at a Senate Agriculture Committee oversight hearing.
“John Rich has long been a champion for rural America, and I look forward to working alongside him as we continue fighting for the people who feed, fuel, and clothe our nation,” Rollins said in a news release Wednesday.
“President Trump has afforded me the great honor of serving as special envoy for American landowners,” Rich said in the USDA news release. “I look forward to representing and advocating for landowners’ rights and standing up for the farmers, ranchers, and rural families who work every day to provide for our country. Protecting private property rights and ensuring that landowners are not harassed, intimidated, or pressured by outside interests will be at the heart of this mission.”
