The Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Biden-Harris administration in August 2022. This authorized the EPA to implement a historic $27 billion investment towards the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). The Solar for All grant program is one of three Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs.
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has three objectives:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
- Provide benefits to American communities, particularly low-income and disadvantaged communities.
- Mobilizing financing and private capital.
Solar for All Grant Recipients
The EPA announced the 60 selected applicants for the $7 billion allocation of the Solar for All grants through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. How fitting it fell on Earth Day, April 22, 2024.
“The selectees will advance solar energy initiatives across the country, creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, saving $8 billion in energy costs for families, delivering cleaner air, and combating climate change,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
The state of North Carolina was awarded $156,120,000. It is under the multistate nonprofit category for the Community Power Coalition (CPC)’s SFA program, ‘Powering America Together’.
Solar for All Impact
Over 900,000 low-income and disadvantaged households across America will benefit from solar energy and advance environmental justice across America.
The program is expected to generate 4GWs of new solar energy capacity. This will avoid 3 million metric tons of CO2 over 25 years with an annual savings of $350 million.
On a granular level, the program aims to deliver 20% household savings. The implementation of this project will also help improve electric grid reliability and climate resilience. A key point especially important in disadvantaged communities.
North Carolina’s Jump Start
Yes Solar Solutions began working on providing solar to lower income homes through federal and local grants in 2023. Through the Triangle Sustainability Partnership, local jurisdictions put together a program for low to moderate income (LMI) households. This program provided free solar to those homeowners and to Community Land Trust tenants.
The program is funded by both local government funds and federal grants. The small (4 kilowatt) systems typically offset about 50% of the home’s energy cost. This is immediate savings as there is no investment on the part of the homeowner.
Yes Solar is proud to partner with Orange County, Durham County, the City of Durham, the City of Raleigh, and the Town of Chapel Hill. Yes Solar’s significant experience in LMI projects enable us to be a key stakeholder in the huge opportunity. As we are already working to make solar affordable and accessible to those who need it most.