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EPA Awards PA Energy Development Authority Over $156 Million To Deliver Residential Solar, Lowering Energy Costs, Advancing Environmental Justice Across Pennsylvania

On April 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority at DEP has been selected to receive over $156 million through the Solar for All grant competition to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed residential solar.

This award is part of the historic $27 billion federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which was created under the Inflation Reduction Act to lower energy costs for families, create good-quality jobs in communities that have been left behind, advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis.

In Pennsylvania, $159 million will be awarded to the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority as the lead applicant of a two-member coalition that includes the Philadelphia Green Capital Corporation, the non-profit green bank affiliate of the Philadelphia Energy Authority.

The award will provide residential solar technology, associated storage, and enable upgrades to households in low-income and disadvantaged communities throughout Pennsylvania.

“Today we’re delivering on President Biden’s promise that no community is left behind by investing $7 billion in solar energy projects for over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “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.”

“The health and economic benefits of renewable energy should be accessible to every community” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “With today’s announcement, the Biden-Harris administration is investing almost $700,000,000 across the mid-Atlantic, enabling low-income and disadvantaged communities to make the transition to clean and affordable energy, while also reducing our impact on the world’s climate.”

The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority is among 49 state-level awards EPA announced today totaling approximately $5.5 billion, along with six awards to serve Tribes totaling over $500 million, and five multistate awards totaling approximately $1 billion.

A complete list of the selected applicants can be found on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All.

The Solar for All program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

All of the funds awarded through the Solar for All program will be invested in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The program will also help meet the President’s goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.

EPA estimates that the 60 Solar for All recipients will enable over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed solar energy.

This $7 billion investment will generate over $350 million in annual savings on electric bills for overburdened households.

The program will reduce 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions cumulatively, from over four gigawatts of solar energy capacity unlocked for low-income communities over five years.

Solar and distributed energy resources help improve electric grid reliability and climate resilience, which is especially important in disadvantaged communities that have long been underserved.

Solar for All will deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to creating high-quality jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union for workers across the United States.

This $7 billion investment in clean energy will generate an estimated 200,000 jobs across the country.

All selected applicants intend to invest in local, clean energy workforce development programs to expand equitable pathways into family-sustaining jobs for the communities they are designed to serve.

At least 35% of selected applicants have already engaged local or national unions, demonstrating how these programs will contribute to the foundation of a clean energy economy built on strong labor standards and inclusive economic opportunity for all American communities.

EPA anticipates that awards to the selected applicants will be finalized in the summer of 2024, and selected applicants will begin funding projects through existing programs and begin expansive community outreach programs to launch new programs in the fall and winter of this year.

Selections are contingent on the resolution of all administrative disputes related to the competitions.

Informational Webinars

EPA will host informational webinars as part of the program’s commitment to public transparency.

EPA has scheduled a public webinar for the Solar for All program, and registration details are included below.

Information on other GGRF webinars can be found on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Engagement Opportunities webpage.

Solar for All webinar: Monday, April 29, 2024, 4:00pm – 4:30pm ET.

Click Here to register for the April 29 webinar.

Click Here for the complete EPA announcement.

Visit EPA’s Solar For All Program webpage for more information.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Gov. Shapiro Announces Commitment To Get 50% Of Electricity For State Government From Solar Energy Facilities In Pennsylvania [PaEN]

-- EPA Awards PA Energy Development Authority Over $156 Million To Deliver Residential Solar, Lowering Energy Costs, Advancing Environmental Justice Across Pennsylvania [PaEN]