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Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, is speaking out against reported plans by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to terminate $7 billion in federal grants intended to help low income and disadvantaged communities benefit from residential and community solar and energy storage projects. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Pingree underscored the importance of the Solar for All program, which was explicitly authorized by Congress in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, and called on EPA to reverse course on its plan to illegally terminate solar grants.

“At a time when electricity prices are increasing and projected to continue to rise due to other actions of this administration, it is unconscionable that you would seek to deny access to clean, cheap energy to those who can least afford it,” Pingree wrote.

The $7 billion investment was expected to generate over $350 million in annual savings on electric bills for overburdened households and create an estimated 200,000 jobs across the country.

Maine was awarded $62 million through the Solar for All program to provide financial and technical assistance to enable low income and disadvantaged households throughout the state to access solar and energy storage and support workforce development opportunities.

“Let the EPA do what it has been empowered to do: help Americans save money, breathe cleaner air, and build a more secure energy future,” Pingree continued.

The letter is available online here and copied below.

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Administrator Zeldin:

I write to you today regarding your reported plans to illegally terminate awards issued under the Solar for All program, a program explicitly authorized by Congress in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Not only would this action undermine congressional intent, it would also threaten investments that will lower energy costs for American families across the country.

As you know, the Solar for All program was established to lower energy bills, reduce air pollution, and mobilize financing for cheap solar energy in low-income and disadvantaged communities in every state and territory, as well as Tribal communities. These are communities already bearing the brunt of rising electricity rates and broader inflationary pressures. Your own agency estimated this clean energy investment was estimated to create 200,000 jobs across the U.S. and generate over $350 million in annual savings on electric bills.

My state of Maine was awarded $62 million to provide financial and technical assistance to enable low income and disadvantaged households throughout the state to access solar and energy storage. Offering long-term relief from high utility bills while supporting workforce development and creating good-paying jobs. Pulling this funding after so much effort has been put into the development of this program undermines economic opportunity and public trust.

At a time when electricity prices are increasing and projected to continue to rise due to other actions of this administration, it is unconscionable that you would seek to deny access to clean, cheap energy to those who can least afford it.

I urge you to reverse course and immediately halt any efforts to revoke Solar of All awards. Let the EPA do what it has been empowered to do: help Americans save money, breathe cleaner air, and build a more secure energy future.

Sincerely,

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