The Washington Post (AP): In honor of Earth Day, President Joe Biden has declared the allocation of $7 billion in federal grants towards residential solar initiatives that benefit over 900,000 households residing in low-income and middle-income communities. In addition, he intends to expand his American Climate Corps green employment training program, which was inspired by the New Deal.
The Environmental Protection Agency is the granting agency; on Monday, it announced the sixty recipients of the grants. Senior administration officials estimate that the projects will ultimately reduce emissions by the amount of 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and result in annual savings for households amounting to $350 million.
Biden’s most recent environmental declarations coincide with his efforts to galvanize youthful voters in support of his reelection campaign. Youth constituted a vital component of a vast yet potentially precarious coalition that aided him in his 2020 victory over then-President Donald Trump. A number of individuals have participated in nationwide demonstrations against the way in which the administration has managed Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Young Americans, according to senior administration officials, are extremely invested in the Biden climate agenda and are eager to help put it into practice. The Climate Corps initiative enables them to accomplish this, according to the officials.
As an important renewable energy source that could lessen the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels, which emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, solar energy is gaining traction. Solar energy is not only environmentally friendly but also has the potential to enhance the dependability of the electrical grid.
However, the initial installation of solar energy can be prohibitively expensive for many Americans, potentially entwining election-year politics with environmental policy.
Out of the total number of grants, 49 are at the state level, 6 are designated for Native American communities, and 5 are multi-state in nature. They are suitable for community solar gardens and rooftop solar installations, among other investments.
Biden delivers the address at Prince William Forest Park in northern Virginia, which is located approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) to the southwest of Washington. It was founded in 1936 as a summer camp for disadvantaged Washington youth as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, an initiative of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to aid in employment creation during the Great Depression.
“Broad community-based solar is our best hope for protecting people and the planet from the scourge of fossil fuels,” said Center for Biological Diversity Energy Justice program director Jean Su. “By means of these targeted investments, low-income households are provided with affordable, resilient, and environmentally sustainable clean energy.” The initiative taken by President Biden to initiate this momentous program is commendable.
Biden, a Democrat, established the American Climate Corps, which was modeled after Roosevelt’s New Deal, through executive action last year. Included in the nearly 2,000 corps positions being advertised in 36 states on Monday are positions presented in collaboration with the North American Building Trades Unions.
On numerous occasions, the president has utilized Earth Day to promote the administration’s climate initiatives. An executive order he issued a year ago established the White House Office of Environmental Justice, whose mission is to prevent greater environmental damage and pollutant exposure on the basis of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
In an effort to reduce energy prices, he has attempted to contrast himself with Republican congressional leaders who advocate for less regulation of hydrocarbon production. Biden officials refute this claim by asserting that Republican policies ultimately undermine U.S. efforts to compete with China in the renewable energy sector and benefit immensely profitable hydrocarbon companies.
White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi stated that Biden is using his visit to Virginia to discuss how “a climate crisis fully manifest to the American people in communities across the country is also an opportunity for us to come together.”
He stated that the programs can “unlock economic opportunity to pave the way for careers that support the middle class, thereby saving individuals money and enhancing their quality of life.”
The Solar for All program, which contributed to the $27 billion “green bank” established by a comprehensive climate law enacted in 2022, bestowed the honors. The primary objective of the bank is to mitigate climate and air pollution while directing funds towards economically disadvantaged and low-income communities that are disproportionately affected by the adverse effects of climate change.
Janet McCabe, deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, expressed her eagerness for the community to benefit from the funds: “It will enable individuals to save money on energy bills, enabling them to allocate those dollars towards other necessities;” state initiatives in West Virginia that provide residential-serving community solar projects; and college residences and residential-equipped rooftop solar projects; all of which are non-profit organizations.
Republicans have opposed the taxpayer-funded green bank and raised concerns regarding the institution’s accountability for the funds’ utilization. The remaining $20 billion of the bank’s funds was previously allocated by the EPA to community development banks and nonprofit organizations for clean energy projects, including residential heat pumps, additional energy-efficient home improvements, and larger-scale initiatives like community cooling centers and electric vehicle charging stations.
Alexa St. John is a climate solutions correspondent for the Associated Press. The climate and environmental coverage of The Associated Press is supported monetarily by a number of private foundations. AP is the exclusive purveyor of all content. Visit AP.org to view a list of supporters, AP’s guidelines for working with philanthropies, and the funded coverage areas.
