Article Summary –
Michigan’s environmental agency is considering legal action after the Trump administration canceled a $156 million solar energy grant following the termination of the Solar For All program, which was part of a broader budget cut. This program, initially launched by the Biden administration, aimed to allocate $7 billion for solar initiatives in low-income communities and was expected to save Michigan families $400 annually, create 700 jobs, and enhance infrastructure resilience. Critics, including Climate Power, argue that this decision undermines efforts to provide affordable energy to working families, as the state had already announced $13.9 million in awards for various solar projects.
Michigan’s environmental agency is collaborating with the attorney general to “determine next steps” after the Trump administration revoked a $156 million solar energy grant for the state.
The cancellation of the Solar For All program was announced last week by Trump officials as part of the Republican-sponsored budget signed into law on July 4, which removed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund supporting the program’s budget.
“Regrettably, the EPA wants to retroactively cut funding for this vital program at a time when such initiatives should be prioritized,” said Phil Roos, the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy director, in an Aug. 12 statement. “We are currently working with Michigan’s Attorney General to determine our next steps.”
The Solar for All program, launched by President Biden in 2023, provided $7 billion for states to advance solar initiatives in low-income areas, aiming to serve over 900,000 households.
Michigan EGLE stated that the $156 million would fund rooftop solar, community solar, energy storage, workforce development, community education, and technical assistance. In April 2024, Michigan officials hailed it as crucial for the state’s clean energy aspirations.
Roos estimated the program would save Michigan families $400 annually, create 700 jobs, and enhance resilience against power outages.
Michigan has announced $13.9 million in awards to 13 projects in counties such as Berrien, Chippewa, Delta, Kent, Oakland, Ottawa, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Wexford, some as recent as last week.
In a video on Aug. 7, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin noted that although the program began in 2024, little funding has been utilized.
“Recipients are still in the early planning phase, not construction,” Zeldin stated. “EPA lacks authority to manage the program or funds.”
As Trump and Republicans cut clean energy initiatives, electricity bills are expected to rise, according to Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan think tank.
Climate Power, an environmental advocacy group, labeled the grant cancellation “a blow to working families.”
“This choice makes life harder for working Americans,” said Climate Power’s communications director Alex Glass in a statement. “The Trump administration isn’t just abandoning climate solutions—they’re removing affordable energy from families who need it most.”
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