On Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the conclusion of a $7 billion grant program designated to assist over 900,000 low-income households in the U.S. with residential solar projects.
This decision marks another move by the Trump administration that hinders the nation’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
The funding, part of the “solar for all” initiatives from President Biden, has been allocated to 60 different recipients, including states, tribes, and regional entities, for various projects such as rooftop solar installations and community solar gardens.
Renewable energy, particularly solar power, is viewed as a significant means to provide cleaner energy and lower utility bills for American consumers.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated on social media that the program was discontinued due to a tax and spending bill signed by Republican President Donald Trump last month.
This legislation abolished the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which was established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
The fund had secured $20 billion for “Green Bank” initiatives aimed at community development and renewable energy, including another $7 billion specifically for solar programs.
“The bottom line is simple. The EPA doesn’t have the legal authority to manage this program or allocate funds to keep it running,” Zeldin noted.
“Today, the Trump EPA announces that we are ending solar for everyone, saving US taxpayers another $7 billion!”
This decision could prevent nearly 900,000 households across the country from accessing solar energy for their homes.
Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont introduced solar initiatives designed to decrease electricity costs for working families, labeling Zeldin’s actions as problematic.
“Solar is essential to addressing the urgent threat of climate change,” he commented.
“When families are already struggling with rising energy costs and the planet faces severe consequences, it’s not just wrong to hinder this program; it’s utterly irrational. We will contest this to preserve this vital initiative.”
The Trump administration has previously targeted “Green Bank” funds, first freezing grants and then effectively terminating agreements.
Zeldin described these initiatives as wasteful and abusive earlier this year.
The EPA contends that the recent tax legislation allows for the elimination of Green Bank and the rescinding of already approved funds.
However, those set to receive the funds argue that most of the money has already been disbursed and is unaffected by this law.
Grant recipients have initiated lawsuits against the administration’s decisions, and judges previously refrained from blocking the EPA’s actions in April.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a leading Democrat on the Senate Environment Committee from Rhode Island, criticized Zeldin’s termination of the solar program as a betrayal.
“It seems Trump’s fossil fuel backers are prioritized once more,” he remarked.
