Two federal courts rule in favor of Solar for All Grants
When the Trump Administration illegally terminated distribution of Solar for All grant funding last year, advocates for beneficiary groups and states immediately challenged the termination in court. Now, two federal judges in different states have ruled in favor of the challengers, and ordered the funds restored.
First, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled on September 18 that Congress clearly intended the EPA to continue administering the Solar for All grants that were already obligated. The EPA acted contrary to this intent and without any other statutory authority when it terminated the program, wrote Judge Mary McElroy. She vacated the termination.
Less than a week after the ruling in Rhode Island, a federal judge in the District of Columbia ruled in favor of Harris County, Texas, that the termination of their Solar for All grant was illegal. The EPA told news outlets that it is considering appealing both decisions.
The third legal challenge, brought by multiple states (including North Carolina) was dismissed in June by a federal judge in Washington state on grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction. That dismissal is under appeal.
While North Carolinians pay higher energy bills, EPA withholds funding
The $7 billion Solar for All program was part of the Biden Administration’s package of clean energy investments approved by Congress, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). The full $27 billion GGRF has been the subject of separate litigation which is still ongoing.
The win for Solar for All in federal court in Rhode Island came in the lawsuit brought on behalf of community beneficiary groups in multiple states, represented by public interest law firms including the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC).
“The court ruled the Trump Administration never should have terminated Solar for All because Congress intended it to continue, and EPA broke the law when it killed the program and pocketed the money,” said SELC Senior Attorney Nick Torrey. “Electricity bills are skyrocketing, so low-cost solar projects — which guarantee big savings — are needed now more than ever. Today’s victory means EPA must stop sitting on the $7 billion in funding for this program and start getting it out into communities to provide hardworking American families much-needed relief.”
Under the Biden Administration in 2024, the EPA awarded the $7 billion to groups administering the loan funds. The estimate at the time was that the funding would assist more than 900,000 households to save $350 million a year on electricity bills (totaling at least $8 billion), while also supporting 200,000 jobs and workforce training opportunities.
Trump’s war on clean energy continues
In the meantime, the Trump Administration continues to wage its insane war on all forms of clean energy, as its Agriculture Department announced cuts to grants already awarded to farmers to build solar systems under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP dates back to the 2008 farm bill approved under then-President George W. Bush. A group of farmers and solar firms have already filed suit against the cuts, which would cost them the investments they have already made in reliance on the grants awarded.