$156 Million Announced to Expand Solar in the Sunshine State - West Orlando News

$156 Million Announced to Expand Solar in the Sunshine State

Tampa Representative Kathy Castor announced $156.1 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Florida Solar for All Coalition to accelerate the deployment of solar energy statewide, including in historically underserved communities.

The grant funding that will benefit Florida was authorized through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

“Cleaner, cheaper solar energy is key to lowering electricity bills, increasing energy reliability, and reducing pollution that is driving the costs of the climate crisis,” said Rep. Castor, a Democrat. “These significant investments will help more Florida families take advantage of the cost-savings of solar and create good-paying jobs. It’s past time we harness the power of the sun in the Sunshine State, and I am thrilled that experienced nonprofit champions Solar United Neighbors, the Solar Energy Loan Fund and The Nature Conservancy of Florida will help lead the way.”

The EPA announced 60 selectees that will receive $7 billion in grant awards through the Solar for All grant competition to deliver residential solar projects to over 900,000 households nationwide.

The federal funding intends to develop long-lasting solar initiatives that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed residential solar.

Rep. Castor has been a leader in advancing investments in clean, renewable solar power in the Sunshine State. As chair of the former Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, Castor recommended that the Congress create the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, including solar initiatives, to jumpstart investments in clean energy.