|
Despite President Donald Trump backtracking on his broad funding freeze for federal programs yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency has cut off the distribution of funds already promised by the government for the popular Solar for All program.
The $7 billion program was authorized by former President Joe Biden's signature climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, to fund programs that provide rooftop solar panels, batteries to store solar energy, and community solar farms. It is managed by the EPA, which expects it to help more than 900,000 low-income households reduce pollution that drives climate change, as well as reduce energy costs.
The Solar for All program recipients, including state and local government agencies and a few nonprofits, have already signed contracts with the EPA amounting to the full $7 billion alloted by the IRA. According to E&E News, they received a letter Tuesday informing them that their grants had been paused until further notice. The letter cited Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” executive order and said the EPA was pausing “all funding actions related to” Biden-era climate and infrastructure laws.
The solar grants are all obligated, meaning the federal government can’t legally take back any of the funds unless it can prove malfeasance on the part of the recipient, according to legal experts.
Interior nominee Burgum moves on to full Senate vote
The Senate voted yesterday to close debate on Doug Burgum, Trump's pick to lead the Interior Department. The former North Dakota governor is likely to be confirmed after the 78-20 cloture vote, with 25 Democrats voting in favor. That vote could come as soon as today.
|
[Solar for All] is a local economic development program that’s going to touch all corners of our country and deliver energy savings and help communities become healthier and more resilient... So to block these funds from moving forward is really callous and shortsighted.”
