Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) at a Public Forum on Maine Vet Homelessness at Hanaford Hall, USM, Portland, Several Years Ago.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is speaking out against reported plans by the Environental Protection Agency (EPA) to terminate $7 billion in federal grants intended to help low income and disadvantaged commuities benefit from residential and community solar and energy storage projectds.  In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Pingree underscored the importance of the Solar for All program, which was explicity authorized by Congress in 2022 as part of the Interior Reduction Act and called on EPA to reverse course on its plan to illegally terminate solar grants.

“At a time when electricity prices are increasing and projected to continue to rise due to other actions of this administration, it is unconscionable that you would seek to deny access to clean, cheap energy to those who  can least afford it,” Pingree wrote.

The 7$ billion investment was expected to generate over $350 million in annual savigs on electric bills for overburdened households and create an estimated 200,000 jobs across the country.

Maine was awarded $62 million through the Solar for All program to provide financial and technical assistance to enable low income and disadvantaged households throughout the state to access solar and energy storage and support workforce development opportunities.

“Let the EPA do what it has been empowered to do:  help Americans save money, breathe clean air and build a ,more secure energy future,” Pingree continued.  Congresswoman Pingree is the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee.