As President Trump Illegally Terminates Renewable Energy Initiative and $250 Million Investment in Harris County, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver[...]

On Friday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) led 100 of their Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the Trump administration to restore the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) Solar for All program. The Solar for All program is a $7 billion investment to help working families lower their electricity bills, strengthen local economies, and build a more resilient future. Harris County won one of the program's largest awards: $250 million to deliver solar and battery storage to more than 28,000 low-income and working-class households across Texas. Families were set to save an average of $468 per year in energy costs before the program's termination.

"We write to express our strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) termination of the Solar for All program and rescission of lawfully obligated funding," the members wrote. "This action is a clear violation of the law and must be rectified immediately.

"States and nonprofit grant recipients have already spent years applying for these grants and developing solar programs in alignment with the goals and guidelines set forth by the program," the members wrote. "Grant recipients have already invested millions of dollars in workforce development and community partnerships. EPA's illegal termination of these grants is fostering economic uncertainty and sending a signal that the Federal government is an unreliable partner as we work to deliver real results for the American people.

"The American people will bear the brunt of EPA's actions," the members continued. "Claims about saving taxpayer dollars ring false for the working families dealing with skyrocketing energy costs. Recission of these grants will rob families of energy savings, will result in job losses, and will halt the expected economic benefits communities were counting on. These reckless actions will weaken our electric grid at a time when reliability and resilience are more critical than ever."

On August 7, the Trump administration announced it would terminate the Solar For All program and take back federal funds that had already been awarded to grant recipients, including Harris County. The letter comes after several lawsuits were filed by states, non-profits, and local governments against the EPA over the cancelation of the Solar for All program. On October 13, Congresswoman Fletcher joined Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee for the announcement of Harris County's own lawsuit against the administration over this illegal termination.