Trump Order Puts $156M Washington Solar Grant at Risk
TL/DR –
The Trump administration has paused about $150 million in federal funding for solar projects in low-income communities in Washington state. The funds were awarded under the Solar for All program by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, expected to help over 900,000 homes nationwide access solar power. This action, part of a wider freeze in federal spending, comes as President Trump terminated the Green New Deal and ordered federal agencies to pause disbursements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Washington Loses Access to Federal Solar Project Funding
Washington was denied access to approximately $150 million in federal funding for solar projects in low-income communities as the Trump administration put clean energy grants on hold. The federal Environmental Protection Agency previously awarded $7 billion to multiple recipients including $156 million for the Washington state Department of Commerce. The funds from the Solar for All program were expected to aid over 900,000 homes in low-income communities access solar power.
Trump Administration Pauses Clean Energy Grants
President Donald Trump on his first day in office ordered federal agencies to pause disbursements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, both of which included the Solar for All program. As a result, Commerce lost access to the solar funding, coinciding with an attempt by the White House budget office to freeze federal spending, which is currently under litigation.
Democratic Senators Urge EPA to Lift Funding Pause
A group of Democratic U.S. senators wrote a letter to the new EPA chief, urging him to lift the pause on Solar for All funding. Despite this, Washington did not have access to the EPA’s online grant management portal where the Solar for All funds are distributed. Other beneficiaries also lost access last week.
The EPA deferred comment to the Department of Justice, which declined to comment. Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who did not sign the Friday letter, voiced her concerns about the held-up funds.
Impact of Funding Pause on Washington’s Solar Projects
Commerce was only able to pull $110,000 from the Solar for All account prior to the federal government freezing the funding. This was the only portion of the $156 million total the state received, according to Commerce spokesperson Penny Thomas. The funding freeze also impacted plans to provide free solar panel installation for qualifying homeowners, a major community solar program for renters, and no-interest loans for energy efficiency upgrades at affordable housing complexes committed to installing solar.
The Department of Commerce announced last October that 90% of the $156 million would be available for direct financial aid to serve an estimated 5,000 households in Washington.
Former Governor Jay Inslee also pledged $100 million from state’s cap-and-trade auctions for solar power, labeling the federal funding as a “game changer” for Washington’s efforts to expand solar energy.
However, the funds’ freeze jeopardizes the vast renewable energy opportunities being brought to the nation, according to Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous.
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