Freeze on “Solar for All" State Grants Leaves Colorado in the Dark

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration issued an executive order (EO) pausing Solar for All grants across the United States, impacting 60 program awardees, including the state of Colorado.  

The Solar for All program, which is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), is a $7 billion program that will save Americans $350 million on their utility bills, while creating new jobs and delivering domestically produced energy in communities across the country.  

Colorado was awarded $156 million in April 2024 to “complement the robust solar market in Colorado by enabling the state to increase the number of communities that can take advantage of distributed solar investments and provide access to affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy.” An additional $62.5 million was awarded to support Tribal communities, prioritizing those in Colorado among several other states. 

Since grants were awarded, programs have been working to deliver at least a 20 percent energy savings to 900,000 households across the United States. 

Following is a reaction from Alana Miller, senior policy advocate in Colorado at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“For communities throughout Colorado, the Solar for All program helps lower utility bills and encourages clean, reliable energy systems that protect our environment and public health. By interrupting Solar for All funding, this administration is stalling important infrastructure projects and putting Colorado’s clean energy economy on the line.” 

The Trump administration’s EO has left local officials and grant program managers uncertain about the legality of its directives. While solar energy developers and advocates wait for clarity, the funding freeze leaves ongoing projects in turmoil.  

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).