RI Judge Counters Trump’s Bid to End Low-Income Solar Initiative
TL/DR –
A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the Trump administration’s termination of the Solar for All program, a $7 billion initiative to help low-income families access solar energy, was unlawful. The EPA had previously ended the program, which was created under the Biden administration and had allocated $49 million to Rhode Island, prompting a lawsuit by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and others. The EPA is currently reviewing the court’s decision and considering an appeal.
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Trump Administration’s Termination of ‘Solar for All’ Program Ruled Unlawful by Federal Judge
Federal Judge Mary S. McElroy of U.S. District Court in Rhode Island has declared the Trump administration’s discontinuation of a solar energy program designed to aid low-income individuals as unlawful. The decision was delivered on September 18.
The $7 billion Solar for All campaign, first introduced by the Biden administration, was intended to grant low-income families access to solar energy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to cease the program last year was challenged by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and the Rhode Island Center for Justice among other plaintiffs. This led to the federal judge ruling in favor of the plaintiffs.
Rhode Island’s Involvement
Rhode Island’s share of the Solar for All program funding was reported to be $49 million. The Rhode Island AFL-CIO and the Rhode Island Center for Justice, who were directly involved with the state’s application for the grant, were expecting the funding to bolster solar investments in the region and create new jobs within the industry.
“We are proud to be the lead plaintiff in this case and look forward to working with the State to implement the program,” said Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “This is a major victory for Rhode Island’s effort to decarbonize our economy.”
However, the EPA is currently examining the court’s decision and assessing potential avenues for appeal.
The Solar for All Program
The Solar for All program was conceived during the Biden administration through the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. The program was designed to assist 900,000 families across the country, generate 200,000 jobs, and save $8 billion in energy costs. The key objective of the initiative was to overcome the high upfront costs of renewable energy and make it more accessible to low-income households. It was estimated that the program could save a qualifying household $400 annually on electricity bills.
The funds were to be available for five years, having been awarded in April 2024, with the EPA entering agreements with the 60 funding recipients before the end of Biden’s term. Upon President Trump’s second term, he implemented an executive order aiming to curtail funding for renewable energy and climate programs, with the Solar for All program being one of the targeted initiatives.
After subsequent legal challenges and developments in Congress, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin announced the conclusion of the Solar for All program, referring to it as a “boondoggle.”
Reaction to the Decision
The Rhode Island Center for Justice asserted that it viewed the Solar for All program as a long-term strategy to reduce electricity bills and prevent low-income families from facing unpaid balances and threats of disconnection. Jennifer Wood, the center’s executive director, hailed the decision as a significant step toward reestablishing a critical route to utility affordability for Rhode Islanders struggling with stable housing and utility access.
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