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President Biden's new initiative allocates $7 billion to support solar energy in underprivileged areas, aiming to reduce energy costs and emissions.
Syris Valentine reports for Grist.
In short:
- The Solar for All program will fund solar and battery installations in low-income neighborhoods, benefiting approximately 900,000 households.
- Funding will be managed by state, municipal and tribal governments along with nonprofits, with implementation slated for the summer.
- The initiative will help achieve the administration's clean energy goals and reduce energy expenses for families by an average of $400 annually.
Key quote:
“Low income families can spend up to 30 percent of their paychecks on their energy bills. It’s outrageous.”
— U.S. President Joe Biden.
Why this matters:
As President Biden noted, many low-income families spend a significant portion of their income on utility bills. Solar energy can drastically reduce these costs, easing financial burdens and increasing disposable income for other essential needs.
Black, Indigenous and people of color and low-income communities bear the brunt of climate change's negative impacts but renewable energy technologies like solar cells primarily benefit wealthy and predominantly white communities.
