EPA Terminates Biden-Era Solar Energy Program Worth $7bn

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ended a major solar energy program worth seven billion dollars. The decision, announced by the Trump administration, stops the Solar for All initiative, which was created under President Joe Biden to help low-income households install solar power. The program was meant to support more than 900,000 homes across the country with projects such as rooftop solar systems and community solar gardens. 

The Solar for All program was funded through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. It was part of a larger effort to cut electricity bills, create jobs, and make the country’s power supply cleaner. A total of 60 recipients, including states, tribes, and regional organizations, had received grants to develop solar energy projects. The aim was to bring cheaper and cleaner power to the electrical grid, reduce pollution, and provide financial relief to families struggling with rising energy costs. 

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin explained that the program’s authority was removed under a tax-and-spending law recently signed by President Trump. This same law also eliminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which had set aside billions for renewable energy projects. According to Zeldin, the EPA can no longer legally run the program or use the allocated funds. He said ending the program would save taxpayers another seven billion dollars. 

The move is part of a wider shift in energy policy under the Trump administration. Officials have been rolling back environmental regulations and promoting fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Recently, the EPA also took steps to repeal its “endangerment finding,” a legal and scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. 

The cancellation has faced strong criticism. Senator Bernie Sanders, who first introduced the Solar for All initiative, called the decision illegal and harmful. He argued that the program would have lowered utility bills, created thousands of good jobs, and helped fight climate change. Leaders in the solar industry have also said the EPA does not have the authority to cancel grants already approved by Congress. 

So far, only 53 million dollars of the seven billion had been spent, as most projects were still in the planning stage. However, environmental lawyers and some grant recipients believe much of the funding is already committed and cannot be taken back. Several groups have promised to take legal action to challenge the EPA’s decision. 

Critics, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, have accused the administration of putting the interests of fossil fuel donors ahead of the public. They warn that ending the program could raise electricity costs and weaken the country’s power grid. For now, the future of these solar projects remains uncertain, with court battles likely in the months ahead. 

Renewable industry firms like PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) looking to deepen their reach in the American market now have to become more innovative to attract customers who won’t be receiving any incentive or support from the federal government. 

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