The Trump administration has just been hit with two major lawsuits filed by a coalition of more than 20 states after it moved to shut down a key clean energy initiative launched under President Biden.
The lawsuits challenge the administration’s decision to terminate the $7 billion “Solar for All” (SFA) program, which was designed to expand solar power access for low-income and underserved households across the country.
According to the lawsuits, filed this week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Trump acted illegally and unconstitutionally by canceling funds that Congress had already allocated. One legal filing states:
“EPA has no lawful authority to deobligate any of Plaintiffs’ funds because…Congress directed EPA to appropriate the SFA Funds, EPA obligated the SFA Funds, and Congress did not direct that the SFA Funds be deobligated.”
The SFA program was a central part of President Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to make clean energy affordable for nearly a million American households. The initiative was widely viewed as a landmark investment in both climate action and economic justice, helping communities that often bear the brunt of high energy costs.
However, the Trump White House abruptly announced an end to the program in August, claiming it was meant to “save taxpayer money.” Critics point out that the administration continues to push through large tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, while funding controversial foreign aid deals raising questions about fiscal priorities.
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown condemned the move, saying:
“Congress passed a solar energy program to make electricity costs more affordable, but the administration is ignoring the law and focusing on the conspiracy theory that climate change is a hoax.”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes echoed this concern, emphasizing how crucial the funds are for local residents:
“Arizona families are already facing sky-high electricity bills, and I will not let the EPA wriggle out of its commitment to fund solar energy projects that would lower costs for more than 11,000 Arizona households.”
The coalition of states suing the administration includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Other key entities such as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority Chair Jessica Shirley, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation have also joined the legal challenge.
The outcome of this case could determine not only the future of the Solar for All program but also the federal government’s broader authority to dismantle clean energy investments approved by Congress.
As climate change intensifies and energy costs continue to rise, many Americans see this lawsuit as a crucial stand for renewable energy, economic fairness, and the rule of law.
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