Press Release  AG Campbell Challenges EPA’s Attacks On Affordable Clean Energy For Low-Income Households

Boston — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and 22 other plaintiffs are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for illegally ending a $7 billion program, known as Solar for All, that lowers energy costs and pollution by bringing solar energy to more than 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country. Massachusetts and 23 other grant recipients also filed suit yesterday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to recover damages for EPA’s unlawful breach of the grant agreements that were executed under this program. 

“As Massachusetts continues the critical transition to clean energy, the Solar for All program ensures that no community is left behind and that every resident has the opportunity to benefit from cleaner air and more affordable utility bills,” said AG Campbell. “The Trump Administration’s attempt to illegally gut this program will eliminate good-paying jobs, neglect the dangers of climate change, and raise costs for low-income residents.” 

Congress created the Solar for All program in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, directing EPA to make competitive grants to states and other entities to deploy solar projects in low-income and disadvantaged areas. EPA selected recipients and awarded all of the program funds to plaintiff states and other grant recipients by August 2024. Massachusetts and the other plaintiffs expended significant resources on planning and engaging with partner organizations and stakeholders to build out their solar programs. 

But EPA abruptly and unlawfully terminated the program two months ago and clawed back the vast majority of the money already awarded. That has left Massachusetts and the other plaintiffs without access to the funds to proceed with their solar programs.  

In Massachusetts, for example, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) was expecting to use its Solar for All award to serve 29,000 low-income households, reducing electrical bills by $372,000,000. Through the SFA program, DOER and partner organizations were poised to offer low-income homeowners zero-interest solar loans, accelerated solar leases, and grants for enabling upgrades; grants and bridge loans that would enable solar on affordable multifamily properties; and grants to enable community solar projects delivering savings and serving low-income households and incorporating meaningful benefits such as community ownership and workforce development initiatives. Additionally, DOER anticipated offering reduced energy costs to state-subsidized public housing properties. Termination of SFA has placed all of these opportunities in jeopardy. 

When President Trump took office this past January, he prioritized fossil fuel extraction to address an alleged “energy emergency” while arbitrarily excluding solar power as a resource to meet the country’s energy needs. In July, Congress passed the President’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” repealing the Solar for All program and rescinding a small amount of remaining unobligated administrative funds. As Congress made clear, the legislation did not touch the $7 billion obligated to states and other grantees nearly a year earlier. 

But instead of following that newly passed law, EPA and Zeldin illegally terminated the program on August 7, announced through an X post, followed up by memos to all recipients, including the plaintiffs, saying EPA no longer has a “statutory basis or dedicated funding” for the program. In fact, the legislation does not touch funds that had already been awarded. 

AG Campbell and a multistate coalition filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging, among other things, that the EPA violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s Separation of Powers Doctrine in unlawfully canceling the program.  

Joining AG Campbell in filing this complaint are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Also joining the complaint are the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, as well as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. 

Separately, AG Campbell joined a lawsuit that was filed yesterday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. In that complaint, the states and other entities argue the EPA breached the clear terms of the agreements and violated the duty of good faith and fair dealing in canceling their Solar for All grants. They’re asking the court to award the plaintiffs money damages, interest, and fees.  

Joining AG Campbell in filing this complaint are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Also joining the complaint are the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, as well as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.  

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