Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the Bonneville Environmental Foundation will receive $43.7 million through the Solar for All (SFA) grant competition to implement residential solar programs in Montana. The award is part of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, aimed at lowering energy costs, creating jobs, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the climate crisis.
"EPA estimates that the 60 Solar for All recipients announced today will enable over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed solar energy," said an EPA spokesperson.
The Montana SFA Program will focus on expanding solar benefits to low-income, Tribal, and disadvantaged communities by addressing barriers through outreach, workforce development, and financial assistance. The program aims to provide electricity bill savings, enhanced resilience, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and a more inclusive workforce.
"The Solar for All funding announced today represents a critical turning point in our country’s ability to include every community in the transition to clean energy," expressed Todd Reeve, CEO of Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
In addition to the $43.7 million awarded to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, EPA announced a total of $5.5 billion in state-level awards, over $500 million for Tribal projects, and approximately $1 billion for multistate initiatives.
The Solar for All program aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to creating high-quality jobs and promoting union participation in the clean energy sector. It also supports initiatives like the Justice40 Initiative and the goal of achieving carbon pollution-free power by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
The selection process for the Solar for All competition involved a rigorous review by experts from various government agencies, and the final awards are expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.
To ensure public transparency, EPA will host informational webinars, including one specifically for the Solar for All program on Monday, April 29, 2024, at 4:00pm ET. Interested parties can register for the webinar on EPA’s website.
