Article Summary –
The Biden administration has announced a $7 billion support for rooftop solar energy projects. The money comes from the Solar for All program, aimed at helping lower-income and disadvantaged households gain financial and environmental benefits from solar power. The program is predicted to lead to the installation of about 900,000 solar systems, providing estimated energy bill savings of about $400 per year.
The Biden Administration Pledges $7 Billion to Solar Energy
The Biden administration has pledged an exceptional $7 billion in project support under the Solar for All program, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, a move applauded by advocates of solar energy accessibility. The funding will be shared among 60 entities, including state and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations, with the aim of helping lower-income families experience the financial and environmental benefits of solar.
GRID Alternatives, an Oakland-based nonprofit, is one of the beneficiaries, set to receive grants totaling over $310 million, with involvement in a third grant of $62.3 million. CEO Erica Mackie described this moment as historic, with the federal government backing a greener transition and making sure all citizens can benefit.
Founded in 2004, GRID Alternatives has grown exponentially, providing solar installation job training and setting up solar systems for qualifying low-income households. Their prior work in tribal communities around the U.S. played a major role in their successful application for the Solar for All program.
The Environmental Protection Agency chose the 60 funding recipients from around 150 applicants. Roughly $5.5 billion of the fund is allocated to 49 grants to states or state-level organizations, $1 billion to five grants covering multiple states, and $500 million to six grants for tribal governments or organizations serving tribal communities.
The largest grants, amounting to about $250 million each, have been awarded to three states (California, Texas, and New York) and two applicants, including GRID Alternatives, that operate across multiple states. View the complete list of grant recipients and their program descriptions.
President Joe Biden has emphasized that energy costs are one of the most significant expenses for poorer families. He stated that the Solar for All initiative is a reaction to this, aiming to install approximately 900,000 solar systems, saving households an estimated $400 in energy bills annually.
Solar for All was initially part of a bill sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., which was later incorporated into the Inflation Reduction Act. Sanders expressed that this is a victory for the environment, consumers, and the economy.
Nationwide Grant Funding Boosts Solar Installation
The grants represent a significant increase in funding for solar installation nationwide. John Delurey, a deputy program director for Vote Solar, hailed the announcement as an exciting milestone. Though $7 billion won’t cover every home, it’s a promising start.
The impact in the Midwest is expected to be substantial, filling the funding gaps for existing programs like the Illinois Solar for All. New Hampshire will receive $43.5 million over five years, a massive increase from its current budget of approximately $2 million per year for low-income solar.
Sam Evans-Brown, executive director of Clean Energy NH, expressed optimism about the federal boost. While his group won’t directly receive funding, it collaborates with companies likely to benefit from the grant.
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