Solar groups sue Trump Administration over cancellation of $7 billion in grants

On Monday, a group of labor unions as well as nonprofits and solar companies filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its cancellation of an $7 billion grant program from Biden's era that was intended to increase solar energy in low-income areas.

The complaint filed in federal courts in Rhode Island alleges that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and its administrator Lee Zeldin broke the law by rescinding grants granted in 2024 to nonprofit groups, tribals, and states.

The plaintiffs include the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, nonprofits Rhode Island Center for Justice and Solar United Neighbors as well as Pittsburgh-based Energy Independent Solutions and Black Sun Light Sustainability in Indiana, Georgia companies Sunpath Solar and 2KB Energy Service, and Anh Nguyen who is an Atlanta home owner and applied for a solar installation under the Solar For All program.

The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs did not receive direct grants but benefited from the program.

The EPA didn't immediately respond to a comment request on the complaint. Zeldin claimed he had no authority to run the program when he ended it in August. Reporting by Nichola Grroom; Editing and proofreading by Mark Porter

(source: Reuters)