U.S. EPA’s $7 Billion Solar Program Cancellation Triggers Clean Energy Backlash

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has terminated the $7 billion Solar for All initiative, a Biden-era program aimed at helping over 900,000 low-income households install rooftop and community solar systems. The move, announced by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to roll back clean energy programs and promote fossil fuel development.

The funding, originally authorized under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, was distributed to 60 recipients including states, tribal governments, and regional authorities. While only $53 million has been spent, many projects remain in early planning stages. Zeldin said the recent tax-and-spending law signed by President Trump removed the agency’s authority to manage the program and the broader Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, calling the initiative a “boondoggle” and a waste of taxpayer money.

The decision has triggered sharp criticism from lawmakers, industry groups, and environmental advocates. Senator Bernie Sanders, who championed the program, called the action “illegal” and accused the administration of undermining efforts to lower utility bills, create clean energy jobs, and address climate change. The Solar Energy Industries Association also argued that the EPA has no legal basis to cancel grants already appropriated by Congress.

Several states and organizations are preparing legal challenges, with the Southern Environmental Law Center vowing to take the matter to court. Opponents warn the cancellation will slow the transition to renewable energy, increase electricity costs, and weaken grid resilience.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse labeled the move a betrayal, accusing the administration of prioritizing fossil fuel donors over the public interest.