WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday concluded a $7 billion grant program aimed at helping US households pay for housing solar projects in low-income countries with more than 900,000 people.
Funding, part of the Biden era Solar for all programswas awarded to 60 recipients, including states, tribes and regions, for investments such as rooftop solar and community solar gardens. Renewable energy, solar power is widely regarded as a way to introduce cleaner power and low energy bills into the grid for American consumers.
Under Republican President Donald Trump, officials pursued dozens Deregulation measurement It relates to federal regulations aimed at protecting clean air and water. Last week, the EPA proposed withdrawal of the agency. “Danger Discovery” It serves as a scientific and legal basis for regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases that are warming the planet.
The administration has taken steps to strengthen fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas as it pursues energy domination in the US global market.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement on social media that solar programs have been eliminated under the Tax and Expense Act, which Trump signed last month. It was eliminated Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fundapproved under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, 20 billion dollars To increase community development projects by renewable energy and another $7 billion for solar programs.
“The final line is this. The EPA has no statutory authority to manage the program or appropriate funds that will keep this Boondoggle alive,” Zeldin said.
Senator Bernie Sanders of I-VT, introduced solar to all programs, reducing electricity bills for working families, and said Zeldin’s actions were illegal.
“Solar for everything, lower utility bills, thousands of good pay jobs, real actions to deal with the existential threat of climate change,” the statement said. “The number of working families has skyrocketed and the planet is literally burning, and not only is it thwarting this program, it’s absolutely crazy. We’re fighting back to keep this very important program.”
According to a tally by research firm Atlas Public Policy, only $53 million of the $7 billion awarded was spent. This week, several grant recipients said their program was in the planning stage.
Stephanie Bosh, senior vice president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said the EPA has no legal authority to terminate grants already allocated by Congress.
“These grants provide billions of dollars in investments in red and blue states,” she said. Bosch said solar is one of the cheapest sources of energy at the time of growing electricity demand.
“This administration continues to dig itself into the hole,” she said.
EPA Discussed Tax and Policy Act allows institutions to withdraw money already mandated. The recipient of that money disagrees by saying that the majority of the money has already been paid and is not affected by the law.
Kym Meyer, director of litigation at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said if the administration wants to cancel solar for all funds and move forward, he would “see in court.”
Grant recipients have already challenged the administration’s actions and judges EPA cannot be frozen in April contract.
Sen. Sheldon White House, a top Democrat on the Rhode Island Senate Environment Committee, called Zeldin’s removal of the solar program a betrayal.
“Trump will put his fossil fuel megadonor again – first,” he added.
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St. John reported from Detroit.
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