Larson Calls on Trump Administration to Restore Illegally Rescinded Solar for All Funding
East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) demanded the immediate restoration of funding for Solar for All, a program Congress authorized through the Inflation Reduction Act that Larson helped author and pass in 2022.
In August, the Trump Administration illegally rescinded $62.5 million in funding approved for Connecticut, a cancellation estimated to leave 7,400 households in our state without solar panel technology. Shortly after that announcement, solar installer PosiGen announced plans to lay off most of their Connecticut workforce.
“Illegally canceling Solar for All will saddle thousands of Connecticut households with higher electricity bills and leave hundreds of our state’s residents out of work,” said Larson. “Americans will be robbed of $350 million in savings on their utilities. At a time when we should be doing everything we can to lower costs and create good-paying jobs, this President’s priority is a new ballroom. Donald Trump might still think climate change is a hoax, but we can’t afford to wait for him to come to his senses. I’m fighting with my colleagues in Congress to restore this program now and am proud to stand with Attorney General William Tong as he fights to reverse this decision in court on behalf of Connecticut families and their wallets.”
Larson sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Lee Zeldin with Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), and 100 House Democrats, demanding the immediate reinstatement of the Solar for All program.
“States and nonprofit grant recipients have already spent years applying for these grants and developing solar programs in alignment with the goals and guidelines set forth by the program,” the lawmakers wrote. “EPA’s illegal termination of these grants is fostering economic uncertainty and sending a signal that the Federal government is an unreliable partner as we work to deliver real results for the American people.”
“Recission of these grants will rob families of energy savings, will result in job losses, and will halt the expected economic benefits communities were counting on. These reckless actions will weaken our electric grid at a time when reliability and resilience are more critical than ever. We demand that EPA immediately reinstate the Solar for All program and allow grantees to carry out their projects unimpeded by political tampering,” they concluded.
Their full letter is available HERE.
Solar for All was expected to create 200,000 jobs nationwide and save families an estimated $350 million a year on their energy bills. Earlier this month, Attorney General William Tong announced a multi-state lawsuit challenging the illegal termination of funding for Solar for All.