Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that the Bonneville Environmental Foundation has been selected to receive $56,540,000 through the Solar for All grant competition. This grant aims to develop long-lasting solar programs for low-income and disadvantaged communities in Idaho, enabling them to benefit from distributed residential solar.
Casey Sixkiller, EPA Region 10 Administrator, stated, “President Biden committed to making the largest investment in our nation’s history to combat global climate change. Our announcement today ensures every community has a green energy future.”
Todd Reeve, CEO of Bonneville Environmental Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the program, saying, “This program builds a new and needed foundation for jobs, economic development, and more resilient communities that will usher us into a bright and sustainable future.”
The Solar for All program is estimated to benefit over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country. It is projected to generate over $350 million in annual savings on electric bills for these households and reduce 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over five years.
Additionally, the program will create an estimated 200,000 jobs across the United States, in line with the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to creating high-quality jobs in the clean energy sector. The initiative also aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the benefits of federal climate and clean energy investments reach marginalized and overburdened communities.
The selected applicants for the Solar for All program have committed to reducing climate and air pollution, delivering benefits to low-income communities, and mobilizing financing to spur the deployment of affordable solar energy. These initiatives will contribute to the Biden administration's goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
The EPA anticipates finalizing awards to selected applicants in the summer of 2024, with projects expected to commence in the fall and winter of the same year. The program is committed to public transparency and will host informational webinars, with a public webinar for the Solar for All program scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2024.
The Solar for All program is set to make significant strides in advancing environmental justice, lowering energy costs, and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic development in communities across the United States.
