What They Are Reading in the States: President Biden's Historic Climate Agenda Continues to Deliver for Americans

To build on his climate, clean energy, and environmental justice agenda, and to celebrate Earth Day 2024, President Biden announced a historic $7 billion in awards through the Solar for All program, a key component of the Inflation Reduction Act. The funding will deliver solar to over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities, save benefitting families an average of $400 per year on their utility bills, and avoid 30 million metric tons of carbon pollution over the next 25 years.

The President also announced new actions, including the launch of ClimateCorps.gov, to further mobilize the American Climate Corps – putting more than 20,000 young Americans to work fighting the impacts of climate change today while gaining the skills they need to join the growing clean energy and climate-resilience workforce of tomorrow.

See below for a sampling of the coverage:

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Biden, in Prince William, touts solar investment on Earth Day
[Michael Martz, 4/22/24]

President Joe Biden on Monday celebrated the 54th anniversary of Earth Day with a return trip to Prince William County, announcing a $7 billion investment to help low- and middle-income families buy solar panels for their homes. The investment includes more than $156 million in grants for Virginia.

Don't sell Biden short, says Amanda Whiteman, an Arlington County resident whom the White House invited to the Earth Day event with her two children and another friend. The three children co-founded the GreenPromise Club four years ago to express their concern about climate change.

"We actually understand he's done quite a lot for (combating) climate change," Whiteman said. Her 13-year-old daughter, Charlie, said she wrote to the president to urge him to "make climate change his number one priority." Biden responded with a letter assuring her that he's doing everything he can.

Reno Gazette Journal: Nevada solar program awarded $156 million grant by Biden administration
[Jason Hildago, 4/22/24]

The Nevada Clean Energy Fund announced on Monday that it won a $156 million grant for its Nevada Solar for All project. The funding is part of a multi-billion-dollar nationwide program to push adoption of solar energy, especially in vulnerable or at-risk communities.

"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 Michael S. Regan, administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency in a statement.

The NCEF called the large grant "historic funding" that will make solar energy accessible to communities that need it the most. "These programs will break down chronic financial and market barriers that prevent Nevada's low-income communities from accessing solar energy and reducing their energy burdens," said CEO Kirsten Stasio of NCEF. The Nevada Solar for All project was created through the Inflation Reduction Act that was passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Keystone Newsroom: Biden marks Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in solar grants
[Isebel Soisson, 4/22/24]

The Biden administration on Monday announced the recipients of its Solar For All Program, a $7 billion climate program that aims to lower energy costs and reduce pollution in low-income communities by installing solar power systems on homes nationwide.

In Pennsylvania, $156 million will go towards expanding access to solar energy for low-income Pennsylvanians. The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority will deploy and enable deployment of residential-serving solar and storage, as well as any equipment needed to upgrade existing electrical systems.

WHYY (NPR Pennsylvania statewide): Pa., N.J. to receive millions for solar energy projects that will benefit residents with low income
[Sophia Schmidt, 4/22/24]

Households with low income in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware will get more access to solar power in the coming years.

That's the promise of the Biden administration's Solar for All grants, announced Monday to mark Earth Day.

"Not just solar for some folks," said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi in a press briefing Friday. "Really making sure that we're opening up a market where everybody, no matter their ZIP code or their economic background, can tap into the savings opportunity that clean energy represents."

The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority will receive more than $156 million to put toward residential-serving solar, energy storage and infrastructure upgrades to enable solar. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities estimates its Solar for All grant will serve tens of thousands of low-income households.

Savannah Business Journal: Capital Good Fund Receives $156M Grant from the Biden Administration as part of Solar for All Program
[Staff, 4/23/24]

On Earth Day, nonprofit CDFI Capital Good Fund has announced it is one of 60 recipients nationwide sharing a $7B grant funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, his Administration's signature climate legislation.

Capital Good Fund will receive $156 million as the lead applicant for the Georgia BRIGHT Communities initiative, which consists of their coalition cities of Atlanta, Savannah, and Decatur, as well as nonprofits, community leaders, other local governments, and small businesses statewide.

"This funding will allow us and our partners to dramatically expand the impact of our existing Georgia BRIGHT program and bring the benefits of solar to approximately 20,000 households over five years while creating good-paying jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving local air quality," said Andy Posner, Founder and CEO of Capital Good Fund. "We are grateful to the Biden administration for their commitment to environmental justice and recognition that tackling the climate crisis is an opportunity to reshape our nation for the better."

The Solar for All grant will significantly scale up the BRIGHT initiative while also broadening it to include workforce development, community solar projects, enabling repairs (such as needed roof replacements), and more.

Houston Chronicle: Harris County wins part of $7 billion federal solar fund
[James Osborne, Clare Hao, 4/22/24]

Harris County will receive part of a $7 billion federal grant toward installing solar panels and battery systems in low-income and disadvantaged communities across Texas, part of President Joe Biden's plan to expand access to solar energy nationwide.

"Today we're delivering on President Biden's promise that no community is left behind," Administrator Michael Regan of the Environmental Protection Agency said.

"This is emblematic of the swing for the fences, big bold climate action the president has championed from day one," Ali Zaidi, the president's national climate adviser, said in an interview with reporters. "Anyone, no matter their economic background, can tap into the savings of clean energy."

Maine Public Radio: Maine awarded $62 million clean energy grant under federal Solar for All program
[Carol Bousquet, 4/22/24]

The Maine Governor's Energy Office is one of 60 recipients of the Biden administration's Solar for All grants.

"Not just solar for some folks, but making sure we are opening up markets for people no matter what their ZIP code or financial ability so they can tap into the savings opportunity that clean energy represents," White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi says.

Maine's energy office will also use some of the funding to expand workforce development opportunities, support siting and permitting and overcome interconnection challenges.

New Jersey Spotlight News: Big solar boost for low-income communities
[Tom Johnson, 4/23/24]

New Jersey will receive $156 million in federal grants to help bring clean solar energy to thousands of households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the state, many of which are saddled with unhealthy air pollution.

Biden administration officials said the grants will lower energy costs for families, help tackle climate change and create well-paying jobs in communities that largely have been left out of the transition to cleaner energy.

Georgia Public Radio (NPR Georgia statewide)

Host: Solar panel adoption is about to get a big boost here in Georgia. An Earth Day announcement from the White House is bringing Georgia $156 million to give the effort a little forward momentum. The grant to the nonprofit Capital Good Fund is part of the National Solar of All program aimed at disadvantaged communities. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says Georgia has, quote, "the bones of a clean energy-based economy."

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm: Manufacturing the means to a clean energy future — solar as well — and then making sure that those clean energy products are either on our roofs or part of the cars that we drive. Georgia is really leading, and we want to continue to march arm-in-arm with Georgia.

Host: The grant includes three cities Atlanta, Savannah, and Decatur.

WDET (NPR Michigan statewide)

Host: the state of Michigan World Steve more than 150 million dollars in grant money from the federal Government as part of the White House's Solar for All program. It provides funding for residents to install solar panels at their homes with a goal of lowering their electricity bills. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, says it could benefit around 10,000 people in the state.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm: It's going to people who are lower income so folks who really do have a biggest energy burden – because they live in a household that is 80% of the area's median income.

Host: Granholm says the money will be made available in Michigan through the State's Department of Great Lakes and Energy.