On Aug. 7, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the cancellation of the Solar For All program, a $7 billion grant program designed to help power low and moderate income households across America.
Over the past couple of years, the use of solar energy has been significantly on the rise as it has become cheaper to install and is more environmentally friendly, with it converting sunlight to electricity. Solar energy is the second biggest reusable energy source as of now, and is expected to become number one in 2026.
Solar For All first started in 2022 under the Biden administration, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act: new environmental laws that would help fight against climate change. In August of 2024, Solar For All had provided monetary grants for 60 recipients including 49 states, six tribes, and the U.S. territories.
The program also helps to cut the costs of the electricity bill, up to 20 percent for over 900,000 homes.
“I think cost is a big factor into why we can or cannot be environmentally friendly. Sometimes you don’t have a choice,” said Amisha Shankar ’26.
Programs like Solar For All are also seen as a good way to remind people to be more aware of their ecological footprint, and to be more environmentally friendly.
“Solar panels are very expensive, and so by having these free forms of energy people are more willing to use it,” added Shankar.
Many in the United States have been affected by the cancellation of the program, such as the southern states. In Texas, Harris County was granted $249 million to help distribute solar and battery power to in-need neighborhoods. This grant provided workforce training for low-income workers and minorities.
The move to cut the program by the EPA was ultimately made by the Trump Administration, as they decided to cut back on federal support for solar and wind energy.
“If we cut programs like this, we’re going to use energy in ways that we’ve always had, which is not sustainable,” said Environmental Science teacher Michael O’Brien.
As renewable energy becomes more common, decisions like these may make it harder for people in the United States to become more eco-friendly, and would ultimately contribute to global warming and climate change as a whole.
