In response to the launch of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All competition, Evergreen Action State Program Director Justin Balik released the following statement:

“The $7 billion Solar for All grant competition launched today by EPA has the potential to be a game changer for deploying residential and community solar in disadvantaged communities. Too often, the neighborhoods that stand to benefit most from clean energy investments have been boxed out of the job creation, pollution reduction, and cost savings that residential solar can bring. With billions in funding on the table and a plan to award up to 60 grants ranging between $25-$400 million, the benefits of this competition could impact every corner of the country.

“The Solar for All competition demonstrates how we can tailor climate policy to begin to directly address long-standing economic and environmental injustices. We applaud EPA and the Biden administration for taking this important step, and we look forward to seeing the program in action.”

The Solar for All competition is an important pillar of one of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) largest grant program: the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Evergreen called for a program like the GGRF (at times referred to as a green bank or clean energy accelerator) dating back to the release of the Evergreen Action Plan, and fought to secure funding for the GGRF in the IRA. The Solar for All Program also advances President Biden’s Justice 40 Initiative, which aims to send 40 percent of benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities, an initiative Evergreen was also proud to call for in our Action Plan. To learn more about the GGRF and why it’s a big deal for the clean energy future of states, local governments, and Tribes, read Evergreen’s explainer here.