As President Trump Illegally Terminates Renewable Energy Initiative, Including $156 Million Investment in Missouri, Reps. Cleaver and Fletcher Lead Effort Demanding Administration Reverse Decision
Renewable energy investment would have provided solar projects to 900,000 households in disadvantaged communities, saving families $350 million every year on energy costs
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) 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.
Missouri was designated to receive $156 million in federal funding to deliver solar and battery storage to thousands of low-income and working-class households across the Show Me State, saving families hundreds of dollars in energy costs annually.
“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 lawmakers 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 lawmakers 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 lawmakers 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 Missouri. The letter comes after several lawsuits were filed by states, non-profits, and local governments against the EPA over the cancellation of the Solar for All program.
The official letter from lawmakers is available here.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.