The Solar for All Program now has 60 recipients who have been officially allocated $27 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This move solidifies the program and allows recipients to access the funds allocated through the Inflation Reduction Act to begin implementing projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution in communities.
EPA administrator Michael Regan emphasized the urgency of addressing climate impacts as the reason for the swift allocation of the fund. Recipients have worked closely with the agency to meet federal requirements and modify their work plans to receive the funds.
Republican lawmakers previously raised concerns about the program, referring to it as a “slush fund” and questioning how the resources would be utilized. Despite these concerns, the EPA has moved forward with awarding the grants to recipients.
The grants are distributed across three programs: $14 billion for the National Clean Investment Fund, $6 billion for the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, and $7 billion for the Solar for All program. The National Clean Investment Fund will establish clean financing institutions to support projects nationwide, while the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator will create hubs to provide funds and technical assistance to community lenders in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
In a letter to the EPA last year, Republican lawmakers expressed concerns about possible conflicts of interest with recipients and the risk of waste and fraud due to the short timeline for awarding the grants. Despite these concerns, the awards have been made, making it challenging for a future administration to repeal the program.
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is part of the federal efforts to invest in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and combating human-caused climate change, which President Joe Biden considers to be an existential threat. The Associated Press has contributed to this report.
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