This Idaho solar initiative awarded millions through EPA grant

A nonprofit organization in Idaho is the recipient of a hefty grant awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Solar for All program.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation is one of 60 recipients across the country to be awarded the grant, and will receive $56.5 million to expand solar access across the state.

The grants, totaling $7 billion, are meant to provide more access to solar energy programs for low-income and disadvantaged communities. The EPA estimates the reach of the program will extend to more than 900,000 households.

According to a release from the federal agency, “Idaho’s SFA Program will expand economic and environmental benefits of solar to low-income, tribal and disadvantaged communities across the state. This will be achieved through a community-designed program that addresses market and non-market barriers to residential solar through outreach, workforce development and technical and financial assistance.”

Further, Bonneville Environmental Foundation will leverage “additional capital to maximize the amount of households served through single-family residential and multifamily residential solar projects,” to decrease electricity bills substantially. The nonprofit stated that the program will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bolster the workforce.

“Today we’re delivering on President Biden’s promise that no community is left behind by investing $7 billion in solar energy projects for over 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan on April 22. “The selectees will advance solar energy initiatives across the country, creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, saving $8 billion in energy costs for families, delivering cleaner air and combating climate change.”

Along with 49 state-level awards, six awards went to Tribes and five to “innovative” multistate programs.

The Solar For All program will also expand solar initiatives into “25 states and territories that have never had a statewide low-income solar program before.”