by Staff Report CTNewsJunkie
Officials and stakeholders gather in Middletown, Conn., on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, to mark the completion of a 2.5-acre solar installation atop a capped landfill. The 809 kW DC system is expected to generate over 1 million kWh of renewable energy annually. (Johnathon Henninger for CTNewsJunkie) Credit: Johnathan Henninger / for CTNewsJunkie
HARTFORD, CT — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it is attempting to terminate the Solar for All grant program means that thousands of Connecticut households will no longer be able to access the financial assistance needed to convert their homes to clean, affordable solar energy, according to a statement from Gov. Ned Lamont.
The EPA notified the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) last week that it is immediately terminating the $62.45 million grant the state secured through the program last year. Reports indicate that other grant recipients have also been informed that their grants are being terminated.
“At a time when households could benefit from transitioning to solar energy now more than ever, the Trump administration is attempting to terminate a program that would lower energy costs for families and businesses while also delivering clean energy,” Lamont. “These funds belong to the taxpayers of Connecticut. This action by EPA is unlawful, and we will be working with other states to counter this action.”
Attorney General William Tong said this was the latest example of President Donald Trump seizing funds intended to lower costs for American families to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.
“These funds were passed by Congress to reduce carbon pollution and to save money for low-income families getting socked right now by utility bills,” Tong said. “We are evaluating all legal options in coordination with our multistate partners to protect Connecticut families and Connecticut funds.”
Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the EPA action cuts off funding for a program that helps residents access clean energy and cost savings.
“This program would also help us improve our air quality, which is among the worst in the nation, and make our electric grid more resilient,” she said. “EPA’s action runs completely counter to our efforts to bring affordable, clean, and reliable energy to Connecticut residents.”
Established by the EPA in early 2024, the Solar for All program was created as part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and $7 billion was committed toward the program. The funds were to be used to help expand the availability and accessibility of solar energy in homes and communities nationwide, particularly those in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The program was designed to cut energy bills by an estimated 20% annually for participating households in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Additionally, the program was estimated to create 200,000 jobs nationally and avoid 30 million metric tons of carbon emissions, according to Lamont’s office.
Shortly after its creation, DEEP applied for a grant on behalf of the state through an application it submitted in collaboration with the Connecticut Green Bank, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Department of Housing, and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, among others. On April 22, 2024, DEEP was notified by the EPA that it had secured a $62.45 million grant, and the funds were obligated on July 12, 2024.
DEEP’s plans were to use the grant to help thousands of Connecticut households transition their homes to solar energy, with a particular emphasis on prioritizing multi-family affordable housing units. DEEP’s plans were to build on the success of the state’s existing programs that support solar and energy storage system deployment, including the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program and the Energy Storage Solutions program. Connecticut is among 60 recipients that had secured grants through this program.