DALLAS, TEXAS (April 23, 2024) - The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources has been selected to receive $156,129,000 through the Solar for All grant competition, announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to advance environmental justice and lower energy costs.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan expressed, "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."
The grant awarded to Louisiana will support a resilient solar initiative focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities, aiming to deploy solar, energy storage, and enabling upgrades on single-family and multi-family homes. The program will also provide financing options to reach communities otherwise left out of the clean energy economy, including equitable loan programs for community resilience hubs, schools, and disadvantaged businesses.
This initiative aligns with President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to lower energy costs for families, create quality jobs, advance environmental justice, and combat the climate crisis. The funding is part of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which supports projects that benefit marginalized communities and promote a transition to clean energy sources.
The Solar for All program, part of the larger Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, aims to deliver solar energy to over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities, generating significant savings on electric bills and reducing carbon emissions. The program also contributes to the administration's goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Additionally, the Solar for All initiative will create an estimated 200,000 jobs nationwide, with a focus on providing equitable pathways into family-sustaining jobs for underserved communities. The program emphasizes collaboration with local and national unions to ensure strong labor standards and inclusive economic opportunities for all Americans.
The selection of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources is among 49 state-level awards totaling approximately $5.5 billion, demonstrating a significant investment in advancing clean energy initiatives across the United States. EPA anticipates finalizing awards to selected applicants by the summer of 2024, with projects expected to commence in the fall and winter of the same year.
Furthermore, EPA will host informational webinars to provide transparency and engage the public in discussions about the Solar for All program and other initiatives under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Interested individuals can register for the upcoming Solar for All webinar scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2024, to learn more about these crucial efforts in advancing environmental justice and sustainable energy solutions.
