California sues Trump EPA for canceling 250M solar program for low-income areas - Local News Matters

California has launched a lawsuit against the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for unlawfully canceling the Solar for All Program, which allocated $250 million to support solar infrastructure in low-income areas. Attorney General Rob Bonta argues that the EPA's decision violates the Big Beautiful Bill, which only allows for the withdrawal of unobligated funds. The state has joined two lawsuits: one in the Court of Federal Claims, seeking monetary damages for breach of contract, and another in the U.

S. District Court of the Western District of Washington, aimed at reinstating the program. Bonta emphasized that rolling back these funds would impede the California Public Utilities Commission's plans to build over 600 renewable energy facilities, ultimately increasing costs for residents. These facilities were intended to provide affordable solar energy to low- and middle-income families through community solar projects. Utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

would have been able to offer discounted rates through these initiatives. The legal actions underscore the broader implications of federal funding decisions on state-level renewable energy efforts. The lawsuits aim not only to restore funding but also to hold the EPA accountable for its contractual obligations to California.