States sue Trump to stop cancellation of $7 Billion Solar Grant Program

According to court documents, nearly two dozen states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for canceling a $7 billion grant aimed at increasing solar energy in low income communities.

In a Thursday statement, California Attorney-General Rob Bonta announced that a group states who received grants through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All Program have filed two lawsuits. In August, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin officially announced the end of the Solar for All program. In an email, the agency stated that it will not comment on any pending litigation.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated that the cancellation of this program would affect 900,000 households with low incomes across the country. After the Arizona state lost $156 millions for Solar for All, 11,000 low income households will see their energy bills increase by 20%.

Without this program, many Arizonans would not be able to clean their homes.

Energy

Mayes stated in an online conference call that the funding for energy infrastructure has already been allocated to our states.

The first complaint, which seeks damages in monetary terms, was filed Wednesday at the Court of Federal Claims. Bonta said that a second lawsuit will be filed in federal court on Thursday to seek the reinstatement of this program.

Bonta stated that California would lose approximately $250 million of funds Congress has committed to the program.

In an online call, he stated that "the Trump administration is trying hold us back in the past and tethered with fossil fuel companies." Trump makes America more expensive and polluted by doing this.

Signed into law by U.S. president, The One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Donald Trump

In July, the funding source for a particular program was eliminated

Zeldin

The "boondoggle" is a term used to describe the situation.

Trump has cut federal funding for solar energy

Energy, calling renewable resources expensive and unreliable.

The lawsuits are being filed by California and other states, including Maryland, Arizona Colorado, Connecticut Hawaii, Illinois Kentucky, Maine Massachusetts, Michigan Minnesota, Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York, North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin Washington D.C. Ten days earlier, a group solar companies and unions had also filed a lawsuit to restore the program. (Reporting and editing by Nick Zieminski, Mark Porter, Andrew Hay Additional reporting by Nichola. Groom)

(source: Reuters)