The Trump (R) Administration is preparing to Terminate $7 billion in Federal Grants intended to help Low- and Moderate-Income Families install Solar Panels on their Homes, the move would Escalate the Trump Administration’s efforts to Claw-Back billions of Dollars in Climate Grants Awarded under Biden (D).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is drafting Termination Letters to the 60 State Agencies, Nonprofit Groups, and Native American Tribes, that received the Grants under the “Solar for All” Program, with the Goal of sending the Letters by the End of this upcoming Week.
It would Certainly draw Legal Challenges from the Grant Recipients, many of whom have pursued Projects in Republican-led States. “If leaders in the Trump administration move forward with this unlawful attempt to strip critical funding from communities across the United States, we will see them in court,” said Kym Meyer, Litigation Director at the "Southern Environmental Law Center", a Nonprofit Legal Advocacy Organization.
Carolyn Holran (R), an EPA Spokeswoman, said that No Final Decision had been made on the Grants. “EPA is working to ensure Congressional intent is fully implemented in accordance with the law,” Ms. Holran wrote in an email.
Already, the EPA has sought to Cancel $20 billion out of the $27 billion in Climate Grants authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. That move has prompted a drawn-out Legal Battle and a widening Controversy involving the EPA, the Justice Department (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Citibank, where the Funds are being Held.
The "Solar for All" Program was Not only intended to help Low- and Moderate-Income Homeowners go Solar. It was also meant to Expand Community Solar Initiatives, which bring Solar Power to People who don’t own their own Homes or otherwise can’t Install their Own Panels.
The Program was Projected to help 900,000 Households access Solar Energy, according to Estimates by the Biden Administration. The Idea was to Reduce the Use of Fossil Fuels, the Burning of which is Dangerously Heating the Planet, while also Helping to Lower Electricity Bills. The participating Households were expected to Collectively save more than $350 million each year on Utility Costs.
Under the Biden Administration, the EPA Awarded all $7 billion that Congress had Allocated to the Solar-for-All Program. Of that Money, roughly $53 million has been Spent so far, according to an Analysis by "Atlas Public Policy", a Research Firm. That means the Program has only reached a Small fraction of the 900,000 Households it aimed to Serve. Still, Households that have already Installed Solar Panels through the Program are unlikely to be Affected by any Repeal effort, Experts said.
"Indigenized Energy", a Nonprofit Group led by Native Americans, Completed the Country’s First Two Solar-for-All Projects in October 2024. The Group installed Residential Solar and Battery Storage Systems for Members of the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Box Elder, Montana, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Porcupine and Pine Ridge, South Dakota. “One in five households on reservations lack access to electricity, and this program was an opportunity to close that gap,” said Cody Two Bears, the Chief Executive of Indigenized Energy. “But those were just two kickoff projects to show what was coming for the next five years.”
On Trump's First Day in Office, Trump issued an Executive Order declaring a National Energy Emergency. But His Administration has been withdrawing Federal Support for Renewable Energy like Wind-and-Solar Power while Encouraging the Production and Use of Fossil Fuels like Oil, Gas and Coal. Michelle Moore, the Chief Executive of Groundswell, a Nonprofit Group that Received a roughly $156 million Grant, said Revoking the Award would undermine Trump’s Claims of an Energy Emergency.
“This country needs all of the electrons that it can get,” Ms. Moore said. “This country is short on power. If you want natural gas, the combined-cycle natural gas turbines are backlogged out five to seven years.”
The other Grant Recipients include: several State Agencies and Nonprofit Groups in Republican-led States, including: the "Georgia Bright Communities Coalition", the "South Carolina Office of Resilience", and the "Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation".
On Monday, the "Georgia Bright Communities Coalition" opened an Initiative to provide Free Rooftop Solar Panels to about 800 Georgia Households, using roughly $12 million from a $156 million Solar-for-All Grant. The Group said Qualifying Households that earned 80% of their Area’s Median Income would be randomly selected for a fully prepaid solar lease that would reduce their monthly electric bills by as much as 70 percent.
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