Latest news with #GreenhouseGasReductionFund
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
EPA eliminates $7 billion rooftop solar grant program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced that it will eliminate a $7 billion grant program designed to help low-income households install solar panels on their homes. The so-called 'Solar for All' program was awarded to 60 recipients including states, tribal groups, regions and nonprofits under the Biden administration's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a $27 billion program geared toward addressing climate change. The Solar for All funds would have delivered residential solar projects to more than 900,000 households nationwide. In a post on X, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin described the program as a boondoggle in which not enough was actually going for solar. 'One of the more shocking features of Solar For All was with regards to the massive dilution of the money, as many grants go through pass-through after pass-through after pass-through after pass-through with all of the middlemen taking their own cut — at least 15% by conservative estimates,' Zeldin said. 'What a grift.' 'With clear language and intent from Congress in the One Big Beautiful Bill, EPA is taking action to end this program for good,' Zeldin added, referring to President Trump's budget reconciliation bill. Solar energy is widely considered one of the best ways to address climate change, by eliminating emissions that come from burning coal or natural gas to make electricity. Earlier this week, Los Angeles celebrated the opening of one of the nation's largest solar and battery power plants, the Eland facility in Kern County, which is now supplying 7% of the city's power. California is home to multiple projects that received funding from the Solar for All program, according to the federal project database. They include a $250 million award for California's Solar for All Program, intended to fund solar initiatives statewide. The California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency were going to oversee and distribute the grant funds, which were particularly focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities and California tribes. Two nonprofits — the Community Power Coalition and GRID Alternatives — each had $250 million awards for separate efforts to develop community solar and multifamily solar projects across several states, including in California. Environmental groups were outraged by the announcement. Estimates were that the program would have saved low-income households $400 a year on electricity bills, created more than 200,000 jobs and eliminated more than 30 million metric tons of air pollution, according to the nonprofit Climate Power. 'This is a deliberate choice to make life harder for working Americans,' said Alex Glass, Climate Power's communications director, in a statement. 'The Trump Administration isn't just walking away from climate solutions — they're ripping affordable energy away from the families who need it most.' Trump — who received record donations from fossil fuel companies during his 2024 presidential campaign — is making a number of efforts to slow the transition to clean energy while encouraging the use of fossil fuels, including canceling credits for solar and wind projects by the end of 2027. The president has said these efforts will help save taxpayers money and strengthen American energy independence. Senator Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts), a member of the Environment and Public Works committee, denounced the EPA's decision to cancel the program as illegal. The funding for the program had already been fully obligated and contracts for all recipients were signed, he said. 'This latest heist from the Trump administration will cause energy costs to rise, keep Americans beholden to monopolistic electric utilities, and make our grid overburdened and less reliable,' Markey said in a statement. 'Trump and Zeldin's attacks on the Solar for All program and their attempts to cancel legally-binding contracts will mean energy bills are going to continue to spike nationwide.' The program would have created more than $8 billion in overall savings across all fifty states, Markey said. The Environmental Protection Network, composed of more than 600 former EPA employees, described the decision as an 'abrupt and arbitrary' betrayal of public health, environmental justice and economic opportunity. 'Communities promised relief from punishing energy costs are now left in the dark,' said former EPA senior adviser Zealan Hoover, in a statement. 'Nearly a million families will pay hundreds of dollars more each year for their electricity bill because the Trump administration killed a program that would have more than paid for itself.'
E&E News
4 days ago
- Business
- E&E News
EPA moves to terminate $7B in ‘Solar for All' grants
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Thursday that the agency would terminate $7 billion in climate law grants to help states, nonprofits and territories bring solar power to low-income communities. Zeldin said in a post on X that President Donald Trump's tax-and-spending megalaw, which he signed last month, 'eliminated' the program together with other initiatives under the so-called Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. 'The bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive,' he said in a video posted to the social media site. Advertisement EPA's decision to end the program, which supports community and rooftop solar in underserved urban and rural areas, would save 'U.S. taxpayers another $7 billion,' he said. Both the solar program and larger fund were created by former President Joe Biden's climate law. EPA under the Biden administration awarded 60 solar grants to entities working in every state. They mostly went to state agencies, which have now been working for months on their plans and, in some cases, have issued sub-awards and made loans. The repealed authorizing language for the broader Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund 'green bank' initiative and pulled back unobligated funds. But none of the program's funds for grant awards have been deobligated. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office determined the provision would recover only $19 million in administrative funds to the U.S. Treasury.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
EPA cancels $7 billion Biden-era grant program to boost solar energy
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday terminated a $7 billion grant program intended to help pay for residential solar projects for more than 900,000 lower-income U.S. households, in the latest Trump administration move hindering the nation's shift to cleaner energy. The funding, part of the Biden-era's Solar for All program, was awarded to 60 recipients including states, tribes and regions for investments such as rooftop solar and community solar gardens. Solar, a renewable energy, is widely regarded as a way to introduce cleaner power onto the electrical grid and lower energy bills for American consumers. Under Republican President Donald Trump, officials have pursued dozens of deregulatory measures related to federal rules intended to protect clean air and water. Last week, the EPA proposed rescinding the agency's 'endangerment finding' which serves as the scientific and legal basis for regulating planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Trump EPA moves to eliminate landmark scientific rule that's the basis for climate regulationsThe administration has taken steps to bolster fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas as it pursues American 'energy dominance in the global market.' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement on social media that authority for the solar program was eliminated under the tax-and-spending law signed by Trump last month. It eliminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, approved under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, that set aside $20 billion for community development projects to boost renewable energy and an additional $7 billion for the solar program. 'The bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive,″ Zeldin said. 'Today, the Trump EPA is announcing that we are ending Solar for All for good, saving US taxpayers ANOTHER $7 BILLION!' Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, who introduced the Solar for All program to cut electric bills for working families, said Zeldin's action was illegal. 'Solar for All means lower utility bills, many thousands of good-paying jobs and real action to address the existential threat of climate change,″ Sanders said in a statement. 'At a time when working families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy costs and the planet is literally burning, sabotaging this program isn't just wrong — it's absolutely insane. We will fight back to preserve this enormously important program.' Only $53 million of the $7 billion awarded has been spent, according to a tally by the research firm Atlas Public Policy. Several grant recipients this week said their programs were in planning phases. Stephanie Bosh, senior vice president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said the EPA has no legal authority to terminate grants already appropriated by Congress. 'These grants are delivering billions of dollars of investment to red and blue states alike,″ she said. Bosh said solar was one of the cheapest energy sources at a time of growing demand for electricity. 'This administration is continuing to dig itself into a hole,' she said. The EPA has argued that the tax and policy law allows the agency to rescind the money it has already obligated. The recipients of that money disagree, saying the bulk of the money had already been disbursed and is not affected by the law. Southern Environmental Law Center litigation director Kym Meyer said if the administration wants to move forward with canceling Solar for All funds, 'we will see them in court.' Grant recipients have already challenged the administration's actions, and a judge ruled in April the EPA cannot freeze the contracts. Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment Committee, called Zeldin's elimination of the solar program a betrayal 'that will further hike electricity costs and make our power grid less reliable.' 'Trump is — yet again — putting his fossil fuel megadonors first,' he added.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
EPA terminates $7 billion Biden-era grant program, cutting solar access to thousands of US households
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday terminated a $7 billion grant program that was intended to help pay for residential solar projects for more than 900,000 lower-income U.S. households. It's the latest Trump administration move hindering the nation's shift to cleaner energy. The funding, part of Democratic President Joe Biden's Solar for All program, was awarded to 60 recipients including states, tribes and regions for investments such as rooftop solar and community solar gardens. Advertisement 3 The Environmental Protection Agency eliminated a $7 billion grant program from the Biden administration to help low-income homes across the U.S. have solar power. AP Solar, a renewable energy, is widely regarded as a way to introduce cleaner power onto the electrical grid and lower energy bills for American consumers. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement on social media that authority for the program was eliminated under the tax-and-spending bill signed last month by Republican President Donald Trump. Advertisement The law eliminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that was approved under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The fund set aside $20 billion in 'green bank' money for community development projects to boost renewable energy, and an additional $7 billion for the solar program. 'The bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive,″ Zeldin said. 'Today, the Trump EPA is announcing that we are ending Solar for All for good, saving US taxpayers ANOTHER $7 BILLION!' Advertisement 3 The latest move by the Trump administration will have close to 900,000 households across the nation lose access to solar energy in their homes. AP Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, who introduced the Solar for All program to slash electric bills for working families, called Zeldin's action illegal. 'Solar for All means lower utility bills, many thousands of good-paying jobs and real action to address the existential threat of climate change,″ Sanders said in a statement. 'At a time when working families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy costs and the planet is literally burning, sabotaging this program isn't just wrong — it's absolutely insane. We will fight back to preserve this enormously important program.' Advertisement The Trump administration has already targeted the 'green bank' funds, first freezing the grants, then terminating the agreements altogether. 3 In a statement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said, 'Today, the Trump EPA is announcing that we are ending Solar for All for good, saving US taxpayers ANOTHER $7 BILLION!' AP Zeldin called them 'a clear cut case of waste and abuse' and a 'gold bar' scheme earlier this year. The EPA has argued that the tax and policy bill law repealed the green bank and allows the agency to rescind the money it has already obligated. The recipients of that money disagree. They say the bulk of the money had already been disbursed and isn't affected by the law. Grant recipients have filed lawsuits challenging the administration's actions, and a judge ruled in April the EPA cannot freeze the contracts. Advertisement Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment Committee, called Zeldin's elimination of the solar program a betrayal 'that will further hike electricity costs and make our power grid less reliable.' 'Trump is — yet again — putting his fossil fuel megadonors first,' he added.
LeMonde
4 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
EPA cancels $7 billion Biden-era grant program to boost solar energy
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, August 7, terminated a $7 billion grant program that was intended to help pay for residential solar projects for more than 900,000 lower-income US households. It's the latest Trump administration move hindering the nation's shift to cleaner energy. The funding, part of Democratic President Joe Biden's Solar for All program, was awarded to 60 recipients including states, tribes and regions for investments such as rooftop solar and community solar gardens. Solar, a renewable energy, is widely regarded as a way to introduce cleaner power onto the electrical grid and lower energy bills for American consumers. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement on social media that authority for the program was eliminated under the tax-and-spending bill signed last month by Republican President Donald Trump. The law eliminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that was approved under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The fund set aside $20 billion in "green bank" money for community development projects to boost renewable energy, and an additional $7 billion for the solar program. "The bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive," Zeldin said. "Today, the Trump EPA is announcing that we are ending Solar for All for good, saving US taxpayers ANOTHER $7 BILLION!" Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who introduced the Solar for All program to slash electric bills for working families, called Zeldin's action illegal. "Solar for All means lower utility bills, many thousands of good-paying jobs and real action to address the existential threat of climate change," Sanders said in a statement. "At a time when working families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy costs and the planet is literally burning, sabotaging this program isn't just wrong − it's absolutely insane. We will fight back to preserve this enormously important program." The Trump administration has already targeted the "green bank" funds, first freezing the grants, then terminating the agreements altogether. Zeldin called them "a clear-cut case of waste and abuse" and a "gold bar" scheme earlier this year. The EPA has argued that the tax and policy bill law repealed the green bank and allows the agency to rescind the money it has already obligated. The recipients of that money disagree: They say the bulk of the money had already been disbursed and isn't affected by the law. Grant recipients have filed lawsuits challenging the administration's actions, and a judge ruled in April that the EPA cannot freeze the contracts. Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment Committee, called Zeldin's elimination of the solar program a betrayal "that will further hike electricity costs and make our power grid less reliable." "Trump is − yet again − putting his fossil fuel megadonors first," he added.
