A federal court in Rhode Island determined that the EPA violated the law when it terminated the Solar For All program, a $7 billion initiative designed to expand access to affordable solar energy. The judge found that Congress had created mandatory funding for the program and that the EPA lacked statutory authority to cancel it.
The Solar For All program targeted lower-income communities where residents struggle with high utility bills that can represent up to 15 percent of monthly household income. When the EPA awarded $7 billion in 2024, the agency projected the initiative would benefit more than 900,000 households, including many on tribal lands, while generating approximately $350 million annually in electricity savings and creating around 200,000 jobs and workforce training opportunities.
The Trump administration halted the program in August 2025 before substantial portions of the funding could be distributed to communities. A coalition including the Conservation Law Center, Southern Environmental Law Center, and attorneys general from 23 states filed suit last October on behalf of workers, businesses, nonprofits, and affected individuals. The court ruled that the administration acted illegally by terminating the program and preventing the distribution of authorized congressional funding.
Some program activities had already commenced prior to cancellation, including installations completed in October 2024 by Indigenized Energy, a nonprofit organization led by Native Americans. The group installed residential solar and battery systems for members of the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Montana and the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, demonstrating initial implementation of the broader initiative.
Program advocates indicated the ruling clarifies that the EPA must resume disbursement of the $7 billion and reinstate activities. The administration’s potential appeal path and implementation timeline remain uncertain.
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