Biden Allocates $7 Billion for Rooftop Solar Panel Installation

President Joe Biden is set to mark Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in grants for residential solar projects that will provide energy for nearly a million low-income households, according to the White House.

The announcement will kick off a week of events highlighting the Biden administration’s efforts on climate change.

Biden will make the funding announcement during a visit to Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia. He will also announce the opening of applications for the American Climate Corps, a program designed to train young people for careers in climate-related industries.

Youth voters, who are typically more concerned about climate change, are an important demographic for Biden, a Democrat, as he prepares to face former President Donald Trump, a Republican, in the upcoming presidential election in November.

The $7 billion in solar funding is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All grant competition, included in Biden’s landmark climate change legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act. It is expected to create 200,000 jobs and save participating households approximately $400 annually, the White House stated.

Grant recipients include 60 state and local agencies and non-profits with initiatives to help residents in underserved communities adopt solar energy and reduce their electricity costs. Some of the winners are organizations planning to provide solar energy to Native American households in states such as Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Historically, residential solar has been challenging for lower-income individuals due to high initial costs and the prevalence of renting among this demographic. The program aligns with Biden’s aim to allocate 40% of federal clean energy investment benefits to disadvantaged communities.

“We’re creating a market where everyone, regardless of their location or economic status, can take advantage of the cost savings offered by clean energy,” a senior administration official stated during a briefing with journalists.

Biden will also unveil the launch of a website, ClimateCorps.gov, for the American Climate Corps, featuring 2,000 open positions in 36 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The first group of participants will begin in June.

The Climate Corps program intends to employ over 20,000 young individuals by providing training in tasks such as solar panel installation, operating LiDAR cameras for methane detection, and restoring mangrove ecosystems, the White House revealed.