Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the Virginia Department of Energy has been chosen to receive more than $156 million through the Solar for All grant competition. This initiative aims to develop long-lasting solar programs that will benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities by lowering energy costs and advancing environmental justice.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan expressed the significance of this investment, stating, "Today we’re delivering on President Biden’s promise that no community is left behind by investing $7 billion in solar energy projects for over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities."
Emphasizing the importance of renewable energy accessibility, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz added, "The health and economic benefits of renewable energy should be accessible to every community."
The funding for the Virginia Department of Energy is part of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, established under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. This fund aims to lower energy costs for families, create jobs in underserved communities, advance environmental justice, and combat climate change.
The SFA: Virginia Energy Program (SAVE) will focus on expanding access to solar and solar plus storage funding for low-income and disadvantaged communities in Virginia. The program aims to address existing market barriers to solar development and enable broader access to clean energy solutions.
Virginia Department of Energy is one of 49 state-level awardees selected by the EPA today, totaling approximately $5.5 billion in awards. Additionally, six awards will serve Tribes, totaling over $500 million, and five multistate awards will total approximately $1 billion.
The Solar for All program, funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, is projected to enable over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit from distributed solar energy. This initiative will not only create significant savings on electric bills but also contribute to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing climate resilience in these communities.
The selected applicants are committed to meeting the objectives of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which include reducing climate and air pollution, delivering benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities, and mobilizing financing for affordable solar energy deployment.
EPA anticipates that the awards to selected applicants, including the Virginia Department of Energy, will be finalized in the summer of 2024. The recipients will then begin implementing projects and community outreach programs to launch new solar initiatives later in the year.
For further public transparency, EPA will host informational webinars, including one specifically for the Solar for All program, to provide more details about the initiative and engage with stakeholders on this important investment in clean energy.
