Coalition Sues EPA Over $7B Solar Program Cancellation Affecting Low-Income Communities Nationwide

A coalition of environmental groups, labor unions, and solar industry advocates has filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its administrator Lee Zeldin for rescinding $7 billion in funding from the Solar for All program, a Biden-era initiative aimed at expanding solar access to nearly one million low-income households. The plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration's cancellation of the program was illegal, violating federal laws including the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution, as the funds had already been awarded and contracts signed. The program was designed to reduce energy costs, generate thousands of renewable energy jobs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions, with projected household savings of about $400 annually and cumulative savings exceeding $8 billion over 25 years. EPA justified the termination by citing fiscal responsibility and a lack of statutory authority, while the lawsuit contends the move will increase electricity prices and job losses, especially in regions with high energy burdens. Industry experts view this legal challenge as a critical test of the Trump administration's broader efforts to dismantle green energy incentives, while solar advocates are increasingly focusing on state-level policies to sustain renewable energy growth amid federal rollbacks. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to reinstate the Solar for All funding to protect low-income communities and support the clean energy economy.