Issued: Apr 23, 2024 (3:08pm EDT)

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Reaction to EPA's Solar for All Shows Positive Momentum for Solar Power Across NJ, NY, PR and USVI

NEW YORK (April 23, 2024) - Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected four agencies in EPA Region 2, which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to receive a total of almost $625 million through the Solar for All grant program. The funding will be leveraged to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit from solar power.

The selectees within EPA's Region 2 are:

• New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, selected to receive $156.1 million
• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, selected to receive $249.8 million
• Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget, selected to receive $156.1 million
• Virgin Islands Energy Office, selected to receive $62.5 million

This award is part of the historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which was created under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act to lower energy costs for families, create good-quality jobs in communities that have been left behind, advance environmental justice and tackle the climate crisis. The national announcement can be found in EPA's Newsroom. A complete list of the selected applicants can be found on EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All website.

Here's what officials are saying across the region:

New Jersey:

"New Jersey is once again utilizing innovative strategies and equitable clean energy solutions to leverage the Biden Administration's landmark investments," said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. "In addition to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening New Jersey's grid infrastructure, the projects supported by this unprecedented funding will produce significant cost-savings for hard-working New Jersey families, including tens of thousands of overburdened households across the state. I want to thank President Biden and his administration, as well as our congressional delegation, for delivering transformative and necessary climate funding in the Inflation Reduction Act." 

"I am thrilled that New Jersey has received $156 million to tackle the major barriers that have prevented the adoption of solar energy by low-income and disadvantaged households," said Senator Cory Booker. "This historic investment by EPA's $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was made possible by Democrats and President Biden through the Inflation Reduction Act, which is actively lowering energy costs for families and creating a cleaner environment for all." 

"Today's announcement is a huge step forward in the transition to a clean economy. These investments will help ensure New Jersey is ready to do our part to tackle the challenges of the climate crisis head on. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress, I fought to include significant funding for investments in renewable energy so that we can empower Americans with new, good-paying jobs and lower energy costs. The Solar for All program is a shining example of those efforts," said U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06). "I'm proud that our state is leading the way forward toward a clean, low-carbon future and proving that we don't have to choose between growing our economy and fighting climate change." 

"Today's announcement from the Biden administration underscores the transformative power of the Inflation Reduction Act's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund as we move toward a clean energy future," said U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09). "My Democratic colleagues and I fought hard to pass this legislation because our children and our grandchildren deserve to inherit a clean and sustainable environment. With this announcement today, I am thrilled to see our shared vision of a clean energy future taking shape. This initiative is a critical step forward in making renewable energy accessible to all Americans, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering economic growth in our communities. I look forward to continuing this vital work alongside President Biden." 

"As a former electrician, I know how important our continued investment in solar power is to lower energy costs for working families, create jobs, and reduce our carbon footprint," said U.S. Representative Norcross (NJ-01). "The Inflation Reduction Act continues to deliver for New Jersey, and the Solar for All program will accelerate the benefits of clean energy throughout South Jersey. I'm proud to have worked with President Biden to enact this historic investment in our climate and our communities, and I will continue to support clean energy and its economic opportunities." 

"I fought hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act because bold federal action was greatly needed to address the climate crisis and support states and residents through the transition to clean energy. With the Solar for All program, we are making clean energy more affordable and lowering families' monthly utility bills. I want to thank the EPA for awarding New Jersey this grant and I look forward to the strides our state will make accelerating solar usage and lowering our carbon footprint with this funding," said U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11). 

New York:

"New York State has positioned itself as a leader in community solar, ensuring more residents than ever before have access to clean, affordable solar energy," said New York Governor Hochul. "We thank President Biden, Administrator Regan, and the New York Congressional Delegation for their support and are proud to partner with the Environmental Protection Agency to advance this historic investment in community solar and build a clean and healthy future for New Yorkers."

"The Inflation Reduction Act is powering a major $250 million boost in residential solar power for families across the Empire State. This is a win-win-win: helping New York fight climate change, lowering costs, and creating new, good-paying jobs," said Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. "Solar is one of the most cost-effective forms of electricity and one of the easiest ways to help families lower their energy bills every month. I was proud to support NYSERDA's Solar for All application and this Earth Day, the future of New York's energy grid is looking sunny, clean, and bright thanks to the historic investments of our Inflation Reduction Act." 

"Thanks to the Biden Administration's award of nearly $250 million in Solar for All grants to New York, we are set to significantly advance our climate goals by enabling solar installations for numerous low-income and disadvantaged households across the state," said U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12). "I am proud to have supported this crucial funding through the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, and I am thankful to the Biden Administration for choosing New York to benefit from this transformative program." 

"This Earth Day, I am proud that our state is taking significant steps to curb the use of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. This $250 million in funding for New York State under the Solar for All grant program will help deliver solar power to working families, lowering energy bills and emissions in the process," said U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).  "I was proud to vote in favor of the Solar for All program through the Inflation Reduction Act, and I thank the Biden administration and Governor Hochul for helping make this possible." 

"This announcement is yet another powerful step in furthering environmental justice, supporting good paying jobs, and cutting energy costs," said U.S. Representative Paul Tonko (NY-20). "Solar offers tremendous advantages, from helping our nation reach its renewable energy goals, to reducing power bills for families and communities, but for far too many families, these benefits are out of reach. That is why I was proud to support the Solar for All program in the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which will ensure that all Americans, regardless of their income or zip code, have the opportunity to share in the benefits of our clean energy economy. I'm immensely grateful to the Biden Administration for their unwavering commitment to an equitable clean energy future."

"The best way to celebrate Earth Day is with real action to protect our environment—and that's exactly what the Solar for All grant awards will help do," said U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (NY-25). "Investing in solar energy is essential to reducing our carbon footprint while also lowering costs for families and creating high-quality job opportunities in our communities. I'm proud to support these efforts to invest in sustainability and work towards a clean future for all Americans." 

"Thanks to the Biden Administration's Investing in America agenda, sunlight will power millions more homes across the country, including right here in New York State," said U.S. representative Tom Suozzi (NY-03). "Solar for All means that low and middle-income New Yorkers will not only breathe cleaner air as we generate more power from clean energy sources, but will also see their electricity costs go down as widespread solar helps stabilize the grid at peak times. Solar energy is a win for us all."

"I want to thank President Biden for working with us to take swift and bold executive action to protect the planet by launching the American Climate Corps, and secondly for investing billions in clean, resilient energy via the Solar for All competition, among so many other significant climate victories," said U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). 

USVI:

"I am very pleased that the Virgin Islands Energy Office was selected to receive the Solar for All grant through EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Providing opportunities for energy resilience is paramount to improving the quality of life for underserved residents and families. We deserve reliable, affordable, and clean power like more wealthy communities. Living on an isolated small island with limited resources makes affordable clean energy even more challenging. The Solar for All program will make the goal for affordable resilient clean energy even more achievable, as well as deliver household savings, increase access for low-income and disadvantaged households, facilitate ownership models that support communities build equity projects, increase resiliency by way of creating capacity, and invest in quality jobs and business," said U.S. Representative Stacey Plaskett (USVI). 

"The US Virgin Islands as a whole are a disadvantaged community that has been historically burdened by centralized fossil fuel-based power systems that suffer from high energy costs, and low reliability. The Virgin Islands Energy Office's successful selection of its Solar for All application has presented a historic opportunity for the territory to fast-track an equitable energy transition that holistically leverages our islands' most abundant natural resource," said Kyle Fleming, Director of the Virgin Islands Energy Office.

Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

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Issued: Apr 23, 2024 (2:32pm EDT)

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EPA Announces Online Collection of Environmental Justice Resources

The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse will help the public access tools and resources as part of President Biden's ambitious environmental justice agenda

WASHINGTON — Today, April 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse, a first-of-its-kind online collection of resources related to environmental justice. Directed by President Biden's Executive Order on Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse will help the public access federal and non-federal resources online as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's ambitious environmental justice agenda.

"Delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration's ambitious environmental justice agenda requires shared dedication to building strong relationships and solution-oriented programs. The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse is a transformative resource guide built to help us accomplish our agency-wide environmental justice goals," Theresa Segovia, Principal Deputy Assistant Director for The Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. "Having an online, easily accessible library of information will ensure that resources from across the country are at the fingertips of all environmental justice stakeholders and advocates. And it will only be made stronger with suggestions from the American people."

EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights will continue to add information to the clearinghouse on a rolling basis and welcomes input and any submissions from the public for review and potential inclusion.

The preliminary resources listed on the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse were submitted by agencies from across the federal government, including funding opportunities, screening and mapping tools, and technical assistance. The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse features searchable categories to simplify results for the public to ensure a more efficient and accessible process for accessing information related to environmental justice. 

"President Biden tasked the entire federal government with breaking down barriers to resources and information that help communities pursue environmental justice. EPA's Environmental Justice Clearinghouse will be a helpful online tool that compiles multiple sources of information so that everyone interested in environmental justice will be able to find resources on one website," said Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Visit EPA's website to view the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse or submit a potential resource.

Background

On April 21, 2023, President Biden signed Executive Order 14906 Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, which included the establishment of the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse to be a public, internet-based, whole-of-government clearinghouse composed of culturally and linguistically appropriate and accessible materials related to environmental justice including:

• Information describing the activities of the members of the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council to address issues relating to environmental justice.
• Information on technical assistance, tools, and resources to assist communities with environmental justice concerns in building capacity for public participation.
• Copies of training materials developed by the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council or its members to help individuals and employees understand and carry out environmental justice activities.
• Any other information deemed appropriate by the EPA Administrator, in coordination with the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA.

Read about the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council and the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government commitment to environmental justice.

For up-to-date information about Environmental Justice funding opportunities, events, and webinars, subscribe to the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights' listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @EPAEnvJustice

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Issued: Apr 23, 2024 (2:27pm EDT)

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EPA Finalizes Stronger Chemical Risk Evaluation Process to Protect Workers and Communities

WASHINGTON – Today, April 23, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule that strengthens its process for conducting risk evaluations on chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These improvements to EPA's processes advance the goals of this important chemical safety law, ensure that TSCA risk evaluations comprehensively account for the risks associated with a chemical, and provide a solid foundation for protecting public health, including workers and communities, from toxic chemicals. The rule also includes changes to enhance environmental protections in communities overburdened by pollution, complementing the Biden-Harris Administration's ambitious environmental justice agenda.

"Everything we do to protect our nation, including workers and communities, from toxic chemical exposures must be comprehensive and grounded in strong science," said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. "This rule charts the path for our risk evaluations to ensure we meet the core objective to protect public health under our nation's premier chemical safety law, which will in turn lead to rules that workers and communities can count on to keep them safe."

The 2016 TSCA amendments require that EPA establish a procedural framework rule on the process for conducting chemical risk evaluations. TSCA risk evaluations are the basis for EPA's risk management rules that protect people and the environment from harmful chemicals. Although EPA finalized a risk evaluation framework rule in 2017, that rule was challenged in court. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remanded several provisions of the rule back to the agency for reconsideration. Another aspect of the litigation, related to the policy to categorically exclude the consideration of exposures from breathing polluted air or drinking contaminated water, was deemed not ripe for review by the court.

EPA's final rule includes revisions made to respond to the court's ruling, as well as several changes to improve EPA's process for TSCA risk evaluations, including:

• Consideration of real-world exposure scenarios such as multiple exposure pathways (e.g., in air and water) to the same chemical, and combined risks from multiple chemicals when EPA has the scientific information to do so, which may be particularly important for communities who face greater exposures or susceptibilities to chemicals than the rest of the general population.  
• A requirement that risk evaluations are comprehensive in scope and do not exclude conditions of use or exposure pathways.
• Clarifications to ensure EPA appropriately considers risks to all workers in its risk evaluations.
• Consideration of chemical uses that may be required for national security or critical infrastructure by other Federal agencies.
• Assurance the agency will continue to use the best available science to conduct risk evaluations, that decisions are based on the weight of the scientific evidence and that risk evaluations will be peer reviewed in accordance with both federal and EPA guidance.
• Discussion of chemical-specific fit-for-purpose approaches that allow for varying types and levels of analysis so that risk evaluations focus less rigorously on the conditions of use that are expected to pose low potential risk and can reliably be completed within the timeframes required by the statute.
• A clear requirement for risk evaluations to culminate in a single risk determination on the chemical substance, rather than on individual chemical conditions of use in isolation, and improved communications regarding the uses that significantly contribute to the unreasonable risk.
• New procedures and criteria for whether and how EPA will revise scope and risk evaluation documents, to improve transparency.
• Adjustments to the process for submission and review of manufacturer requests for risk evaluations of chemicals to better align with the process and timeline associated with EPA-initiated risk evaluations, while also ensuring that the agency can use the authorities provided under the law for gathering any needed additional information on such chemicals.
• A requirement that risk evaluations must explicitly consider overburdened communities when identifying potentially exposed and susceptible populations as relevant to the risk evaluation.

EPA announced many of the changes included in the final rule in 2021 and has incorporated them into TSCA risk evaluation activities over the past three years. EPA then proposed a revised procedural framework rule in October 2023 and, after carefully considering public comment on the proposed rule, released today's final rule. The procedures outlined in the rule apply to all risk evaluations initiated 30 days after the date of publication of the final rule or later. For risk evaluations that are currently in process, EPA expects to apply the new procedures to those risk evaluations to the extent practicable, taking into consideration the statutory requirements and deadlines.

Learn more about the TSCA risk evaluation process.

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Issued: Apr 23, 2024 (12:28pm EDT)

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La Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto de Puerto Rico recibirá más de $156 millones para proveer energía solar, reducir los costos de energía y promover la justicia ambiental en todo Puerto Rico

La EPA anuncia a los seleccionados para la competencia de subvenciones del Fondo de Reducción de Gases de Efecto Invernadero para hacer llegar energía solar a hogares de bajos recursos y desventajados a través de la agenda Investing in America del Presidente

Contacto: Lilliana Aleman-Roman, 787-977-5816, AlemanRoman.Lilliana@epa.gov

SAN JUAN, P.R. (23 de abril de 2024) - Hoy, la Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto (OGP) de Puerto Rico fue seleccionada para recibir $156.1 millones de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA) a través del programa de subvenciones Solar for All. Los fondos tienen el fin de desarrollar programas que beneficien a comunidades desventajadas y de bajos recursos con energía solar a largo plazo.  Esta adjudicación forma parte del histórico Fondo de Reducción de Gases de Efecto Invernadero (GGRF) de $27 mil millones, que se creó conforme a la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación del Presidente Biden destinada a reducir los costos de energía para las familias, crear empleos de buena calidad en comunidades que se han quedado rezagadas, promover la justicia ambiental y abordar la crisis climática.

La OGP encabezará una coalición de otras cuatro organizaciones aliadas para instalar sistemas solares y de almacenamiento que proveerán un beneficio económico a miles de hogares de bajos recursos y desventajados y harán que sus fuentes de energía sean más resistentes a fenómenos atmosféricos. El programa reducirá las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y otros contaminantes atmosféricos en comunidades de bajos recursos y desventajadas, aportando además el capital financiero necesario para estimular proyectos adicionales. El programa también incluirá un programa de capacitación laboral para crear trabajos bien remunerados dentro del sector de la energía solar. El programa también involucrará a los residentes en la planificación e implementación del programa. Dada la vulnerabilidad e inestabilidad de la red eléctrica de Puerto Rico, la energía solar es esencial para aumentar la capacidad de suministrar energía durante apagones.

"Hoy cumplimos la promesa del Presidente Biden de que ninguna comunidad quede rezagada al invertir $7 mil millones en proyectos de energía solar para más de 900,000 hogares en comunidades de bajos recursos y desventajadas", comentó el administrador de la EPA, Michael S. Regan. "Los seleccionados promoverán iniciativas de energía solar en todo el país, creando cientos de miles de empleos bien remunerados, ahorrando $8 mil millones en costos de energía para las familias, brindando aire más limpio y combatiendo el cambio climático." 

"Solar for All cumple con el compromiso de la EPA de justicia climática en brindar beneficios de energía limpia a las comunidades desventajadas que están en el frente de la lucha contra el cambio climático", indicó la administradora regional Lisa F. García. "Esta subvención ayudará a comunidades en Puerto Rico a tener acceso a la energía solar y en reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero a la vez que se benefician con programas que proporcionarán empleos bien remunerados."

La OGP recibió una de las 49 adjudicaciones a nivel estatal que la EPA anunció hoy para un total de inversión aproximado de $5.5 mil millones, junto con seis adjudicaciones para servir a las naciones indígenas por un total de más de $500 millones, y cinco adjudicaciones multi-estatales por un total aproximado de $1 mil millones.

La lista completa de las entidades seleccionadas se puede encontrar en el sitio web de GGRF Solar for All de la EPA.

La EPA estima que los 60 beneficiarios del programa Solar for All permitirán que más de 900,000 hogares en comunidades de bajos recursos y desventajadas implementen y se beneficien con la energía solar distribuida. Esta inversión de $7 mil millones generará más de $350 millones en ahorros anuales en las facturas de electricidad para los hogares participantes de este programa. El programa reducirá acumulativamente el equivalente a 30 millones de toneladas métricas de emisiones de dióxido de carbono, a partir de más de cuatro gigavatios de capacidad de energía solar disponible para comunidades de bajos recursos durante cinco años. Los recursos solares y de energía distribuida ayudan a mejorar la confiabilidad de la red eléctrica y la resiliencia climática, lo cual es especialmente importante en las comunidades que se han visto desatendidas durante mucho tiempo.

Solar for All cumplirá con el compromiso de la Administración Biden-Harris de crear empleos de alta calidad con la opción libre y justa de unirse a un sindicato para trabajadores en los Estados Unidos. Esta inversión de $7 mil millones en energía limpia generará una cifra estimada de 200,000 empleos en todo el país. Todos las entidades seleccionadas tienen la intención de invertir en programas locales de desarrollo de fuerza laboral en el campo de la energía limpia a fin de ampliar las oportunidades equitativas de empleos que puedan sostener a familias de las comunidades que están diseñados para servir. Al menos el 35% de las entidades seleccionadas ya han involucrado a sindicatos locales o nacionales para estos programas, lo que demuestra como estos contribuirán a cimentar una economía de energía limpia basada en normas laborales sólidas y en promover oportunidades económicas inclusivas para todas las comunidades estadounidenses.

El programa Solar for All también promueve la Iniciativa Justice40 del Presidente Biden, la cual estableció la meta de que el 40% de los beneficios generales de ciertas inversiones federales en materia de clima, energía limpia, viviendas asequibles y sostenibles, y otras inversiones fluyan hacia comunidades desventajadas que están marginadas por la falta de inversión y abrumadas por la contaminación. Todos los fondos otorgados a través del programa Solar for All se invertirán en comunidades de bajos recursos y desventajadas. El programa también ayudará a cumplir el objetivo del Presidente de lograr un sector energético libre de contaminación de carbono para el año 2035 y una economía de cero emisiones netas a más tardar para el año 2050.

Los 60 postulantes seleccionados se han comprometido a cumplir los tres objetivos del GGRF: reducir la contaminación climática y atmosférica; beneficiar las comunidades de bajos recursos y desventajadas; y movilizar financiación que estimule la implementación adicional de energía solar asequible. Las entidades seleccionadas de Solar for All están ampliando los programas solares existentes para personas de bajos recursos y lanzando nuevos programas. En al menos 25 estados y territorios de Estados Unidos, Solar for All está lanzando nuevos programas donde nunca antes había habido un programa solar sustancial para personas de bajos recursos. En estos lugares, las entidades seleccionadas bajo este programa abrirán nuevos mercados para la energía solar distribuida al proveer fondos para nuevos programas que proporcionan subvenciones y financiamiento de bajo costo para la energía solar residencial de bajos recursos.

Seminarios web informativos

La EPA organizará seminarios informativos en línea como parte del compromiso del programa con la transparencia pública. La EPA ha programado un seminario web público para el programa Solar for All, y los detalles de registro se incluyen a continuación. La información sobre otros seminarios en línea del GGRF se puede encontrar en la página web de Oportunidades de Participación en el Fondo de Reducción de Gases de Efecto Invernadero de la EPA.

Seminario en línea de Solar for All: lunes 29 de abril de 2024, 4 – 4:30 pm, hora local del Este. Inscríbase para la reunión del 29 de abril.

Información sobre el proceso de revisión y selección

Los 60 postulantes seleccionados para recibir financiación fueron elegidos a través de un proceso de revisión de la competencia. Este proceso de varias etapas incluyó la revisión de cientos de expertos en clima, mercados de energía, justicia ambiental, trabajo y protección al consumidor de la EPA, el Departamento de Energía, el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, el Departamento del Tesoro, el Departamento de Agricultura, la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias, el Departamento de Trabajo, el Departamento de Defensa, la Oficina de Protección Financiera del Consumidor y los Laboratorios Nacionales del Departamento de Energía, todos examinados a través de verificaciones de ética y conflicto de interés y capacitación sobre los requisitos del programa y los criterios de evaluación. Las solicitudes fueron calificadas y seleccionadas a través de docenas de paneles de revisión y un equipo de revisión interinstitucional.

La EPA prevé que las adjudicaciones a los postulantes seleccionados se finalizarán en el verano de 2024, y los postulantes seleccionados comenzarán a financiar proyectos a través de programas existentes, iniciando programas expansivos de alcance comunitario para lanzar nuevos programas en el otoño e invierno de este año. Las selecciones están supeditadas a la resolución de todas las disputas administrativas relacionadas con los concursos.

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Issued: Apr 22, 2024 (11:50am EDT)

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7 Billion Solar for All Grants to Deliver Residential Solar, Saving Low-Income Americans $350 Million Annually and Advancing Environmental Justice Across America

EPA announces 60 selectees under Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant competition to deliver solar to more than 900,000 low-income and disadvantaged households nationwide through the President's Investing in America agenda

Washington – Today, April 22, as the Biden-Harris Administration celebrates Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced 60 selectees that will receive $7 billion in grant awards through the Solar for All grant competition to deliver residential solar projects to over 900,000 households nationwide. The grant competition is funded by President Biden's Investing in America agenda through the Inflation Reduction Act, which created EPA's $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The 60 selections under the $7 billion Solar for All program will provide funds to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits across the country to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed residential solar, lowering energy costs for families, creating good-quality jobs in communities that have been left behind, advancing environmental justice and tackling climate change.

"Today we're delivering on President Biden's promise that no community is left behind by investing $7 billion in solar energy projects for over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "The selectees will advance solar energy initiatives across the country, creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, saving $8 billion in energy costs for families, delivering cleaner air, and combating climate change." 

"Solar is the cheapest form of electricity—and one of the best ways to lower energy costs for American families," said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. "Today's announcement of EPA's Solar for All awards will mean that low-income communities, and not just well-off communities, will feel the cost-saving benefits of solar thanks to this investment."

"Residential solar electricity leads to reduced monthly utility bills, reduced levels of air pollution in neighborhoods, and ultimately healthier communities, but too often low-income and disadvantaged communities have been left out. Today's announcement will invest billions to ensure that affordable housing across the U.S. can access solar and increase energy efficiency and climate resilience," said U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. "HUD is honored to have played a key role in today's monumental announcement, which will provide meaningful household savings to households in low-income and disadvantaged communities, reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs, and deliver electricity during grid outages for low-income households."

"Sunlight is powering millions of homes across the nation, and we're working hard to ensure Americans everywhere can benefit from this affordable clean energy resource," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. "DOE is proud to work alongside our partners at EPA and across the Federal government to help communities access the limitless energy of the sun to light their homes and power their businesses."

"The United States can and must lead the world in transforming our energy systems away from fossil fuels," said U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT). "The Solar for All program – legislation that I successfully introduced – will not only combat the existential threat of climate change by making solar energy available to working class families, it will also substantially lower the electric bills of Americans and create thousands of good-paying jobs. This is a win for the environment, a win for consumers, and a win for the economy."

EPA estimates that the 60 Solar for All recipients will enable over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed solar energy. This $7 billion investment will generate over $350 million in annual savings on electric bills for overburdened households. The program will reduce 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions cumulatively, from over four gigawatts of solar energy capacity unlocked for low-income communities over five years. Solar and distributed energy resources help improve electric grid reliability and climate resilience, which is especially important in disadvantaged communities that have long been underserved.

Solar for All will deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to creating high-quality jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union for workers across the United States. This $7 billion investment in clean energy will generate an estimated 200,000 jobs across the country. All selected applicants intend to invest in local, clean energy workforce development programs to expand equitable pathways into family-sustaining jobs for the communities they are designed to serve. At least 35% of selected applicants have already engaged local or national unions, demonstrating how these programs will contribute to the foundation of a clean energy economy built on strong labor standards and inclusive economic opportunity for all American communities.

The Solar for All program also advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. All of the funds awarded through the Solar for All program will be invested in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The program will also help meet the President's goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.

Solar for All will expand existing low-income solar programs and launch new ones. The 60 selected applicants will serve households in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and territories, as well as increase access to solar for Tribes. EPA has selected 49 state-level awards totaling approximately $5.5 billion, six awards to serve Tribes totaling over $500 million, and five multistate awards totaling approximately $1 billion. Solar for All will deploy residential solar for households nationwide by not only providing grants and low-cost financing to overcome financial barriers to deployment but also by providing services to communities to overcome other barriers such as siting, permitting, and interconnection. A complete list of the selected applicants can be found on EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All website.

The 60 selected applicants have committed to delivering on the three objectives of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: reducing climate and air pollution; delivering benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities; and mobilizing financing to spur additional deployment of affordable solar energy. Solar for All selected applicants are expanding existing low-income solar programs and launching new programs. In at least 25 states and territories nationwide, Solar for All is launching new programs where there has never been a substantial low-income solar program before. In these geographies, Solar for All selected applicants will open new markets for distributed solar by funding new programs that provide grants and low-cost financing for low-income, residential solar.

To date, many of the 60 selected Solar for All applicants have supported low-income and underserved communities in installing innovative residential solar projects. With this new funding, selectees can launch thousands more projects like these throughout every state and territory in the nation:

• The threat of storms is a major reason Athens, Georgia resident Delmira Jennings and her husband John used selected applicant Capital Good Fund's Georgia BRIGHT leasing program to install a 13-kilowatt solar and 10-kilowatt-hour battery system in February. "Last year, we spent two days without power after what seemed like a mini tornado," Jennings said. After a recent outage, Jennings noted that she didn't even know she lost power. "The batteries kicked in and all the power items we were using were on battery backup."
• Last year, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, whose successful pilot initiative served as the basis for selected applicant Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara (MHA) Nation's Northern Plains Tribal Solar for All program, took major steps toward a clean energy future with the completion of the first phase of the White River Community Solar project. This project will deploy 15 solar systems at the homes of elders while piloting a groundbreaking approach to solar ownership and management that is intended to set an example for Tribes across the nation.
• Through its Solar Access for Nationwide Affordable Housing (SANAH) program — a model for equitably providing solar to low-income renters in disadvantaged communities — selected applicant GRID Alternatives' team in San Diego installed a solar energy system at Trolley Trestle, home to youth transitioning out of the foster care system. Energy cost savings estimated at over $600k over ten years, will be reinvested to provide additional services to those who call Trolley Trestle home, including more job and life skills training.

Review and Selection Process Information

The 60 applicants selected for funding were chosen through a competition review process. This multi-stage process included review from hundreds of experts in climate, power markets, environmental justice, labor, and consumer protection from EPA, Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, Department of Treasury, Department of Agriculture, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Labor, Department of Defense, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Department of Energy's National Labs – all screened through ethics and conflict of interest checks and trained on the program requirements and evaluation criteria. Applications were scored and selected through dozens of review panels and an interagency senior review team.

EPA anticipates that awards to the selected applicants will be finalized in the summer of 2024, and selected applicants will begin funding projects through existing programs and begin expansive community outreach programs to launch new programs in the fall and winter of this year. Selections are contingent on the resolution of all administrative disputes related to the competitions.

Informational Webinars

EPA will host informational webinars as part of the program's commitment to public transparency. EPA has scheduled a public webinar for the Solar for All program, and registration details are included below. Information on other GGRF webinars can be found on EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Engagement Opportunities webpage.

Solar for All webinar: Monday, April 29, 2024, 4:00pm – 4:30pm ET. Register for the April 29 meeting

For further information: press@epa.gov

 

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