Statement on Cancellation of “Solar for All” Grants in Texas

Austin, Texas — Today, stakeholders across Texas are reeling following the Trump administration’s decision to cancel nearly $250 million in Solar for All grants awarded by the EPA to a coalition led by Harris County. The project, launched under the Biden-era Solar for All program, was designed to deploy solar energy solutions in low- and moderate-income communities, reduce energy burden, improve resilience, and grow clean-energy job opportunities.

• The Solar for All program intended to support deployments of rooftop solar panels, community solar, battery storage, and energy efficiency upgrades in low-income neighborhoods across Texas.

• The grant funds were awarded to a coalition of local governments and nonprofits—including Harris County—to serve some 28,000 households. The project also included workforce development: training and certification for solar technicians, including apprenticeship programs.

• On August 7, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the Trump administration was terminating all existing Solar for All contracts, citing a belief that the program was beyond the EPA’s authority and that funds had been improperly appropriated.

• Many organizations had already begun work: training cohorts, buying lab equipment, selecting participants, and making community commitments. These entities are now facing uncertainty over funding, credibility, and ability to deliver promised benefits.

• Low-income households expected to receive solar installations, battery storage, or efficiency upgrades will lose out on direct support that would have lowered their energy bills.

• Workforce development efforts already underway have been disrupted. Organizations that had begun recruiting and training individuals now face cancelled programs and stranded investments.

• Grid resilience and energy affordability are threatened, particularly in areas with high energy burdens or vulnerable to power outages. The planned “resilience hubs” in Houston and elsewhere are now at risk.

• Community trust may be eroded as coalitions and nonprofits struggle to explain canceled commitments to those they had promised support.

We believe the cancellation of these grants is a serious setback for Texas’ clean energy goals, economic justice, and environmental resilience. The Solar for All program represented one of the largest clean energy partnerships in Texas history, with bipartisan coalitions working together to reduce energy costs, create jobs, and strengthen our energy infrastructure.

We call on:

• Federal authorities, including the EPA, to reconsider or restore these grants. Legal review is underway to determine if the cancellation is lawful. Coalition leaders have already begun exploring legal pathways.

• State and local governments to identify alternative funding sources to salvage as much of the program as possible. Some components may be continued through private or philanthropic support.

• Community organizations to engage affected households, communicate transparently about what has changed, and help mitigate harms.