Press Release  Trump Administration Threatens EPA’s $156 Million Solar for All Award to Massachusetts

Governor Maura Healey is sounding the alarm on reports that the Trump Administration is considering illegally cancelling the EPA’s Solar for All program, which awarded Massachusetts $156 million in funding. The Massachusetts Solar for All Coalition estimated the program would help more than 29,000 Massachusetts households lower their energy bills by 20 percent, create approximately 3,000 good-paying jobs, and add 125 megawatts of solar energy across the state. 

 “Solar is the fastest and cheapest way to bring affordable energy into Massachusetts. Affordability isn’t controversial – that's why states like Texas and Florida are building so much solar. And that’s why my administration has been working hard to deliver more affordable solar to our residents and businesses through new incentives and programs like Solar for All,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This program is poised to lower energy bills for nearly 30,000 Massachusetts households and create thousands of jobs. We want to take an all-of-the-above approach to energy here in Massachusetts to increase supply and meet demand. We strongly urge the Trump Administration to abandon any plans to terminate the Solar for All grants.” 

“Every community in Massachusetts would benefit from this program, and we need the federal government to deliver on its promises,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “On top of lowering the cost of living for families, Solar for All would create nearly 3,000 new jobs, support an additional 650 workers with workforce development and training programs, and support more than 50 small businesses.” 

“No one in Massachusetts voted for electric bills to go up, to kill thousands of good-paying jobs, or to make energy less reliable,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “I fought hard for this funding --- canceling it would be reckless and further proof that the Trump administration doesn’t care about lowering costs.”

“The Solar for All program means lower electric bills for all. Any attempts to terminate these legally binding contracts would be an attack on American households, who are already facing skyrocketing energy costs and begging for relief, not political retribution," said Senator Ed Markey. "Solar for All is set to cut participating households’ average energy bills by $400 a year, with more than $8 billion in savings overall across all fifty states. This program should be a win for the Administration—cutting it would mean stealing $4.6 billion away from states with Republican governors or senators. A heist on that magnitude simply makes no political or practical sense, especially when energy bills are going up and our grid is desperate for more generation.”

Solar for All is a $7 billion program that is part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Under the program, grants were awarded to 60 entities across the country, including states, Tribes, and multistate collaborations. The program would have helped more than 900,000 U.S. households benefit from locally produced solar energy, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Massachusetts Solar for All program was scheduled to launch later this summer. 

Solar for All would help Massachusetts add 125 megawatts of solar capacity. Massachusetts has fallen behind other states – like Florida and Louisiana – in solar deployment. For years, Massachusetts ranked in the top 5 states for solar installations but dropped to 26th in the number of megawatts of solar installed in 2024. 

“Simply put, solar keeps the lights on and energy costs down,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As the federal government takes measures that will raise Americans’ energy bills and worsen public health, our administration will continue work to get more energy into Massachusetts and meet growing electricity demand.” 

“Terminating Solar for All would represent a loss of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build solar power for the households that need the help the most,” said Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “That’s why we recently strengthened Massachusetts’ ability to build more solar. Our updated SMART program will provide the industry with much needed stability and keep folks working because solar companies know Massachusetts is a good place to do business.” 

The Department of Energy Resources spearheads Massachusetts’ EPA-approved program, and partners with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Boston Housing Authority, and MassHousing, to make solar energy systems more accessible for small residential and multifamily homes and expand access to community solar. Planned components of the program include: 

• Residential zero-interest loans
• Residential lease initiative
• Public affordable housing procurement initiative
• Private affordable housing financing
• Support for low-income community shared solar 

Solar helps lower costs because it reduces demand, which in turn reduces the need to build transmission and distribution infrastructure, saving hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars that ratepayers would otherwise pay to maintain reliability. During the summer, solar helps reduce peak demand and lowers energy costs and grid investment needs. For example, on June 24, 2025, solar helped maintain reliability and saved New England electricity consumers over $8 million by avoiding wholesale costs. Solar prevented over 2 GW of power from power plants from being needed at a time when wholesale prices hit more than $1,000 per MWh. During the winter, solar production helps avoid the use of limited fossil fuel resources by other electric generators, improving reliability and lowering energy prices for all customers. And during the spring and fall, solar can provide a significant portion of the region’s energy needs and reduce the wholesale costs of energy for everyone. For example, during the afternoon of April 20, 2025, over 55% of the electricity demand on the New England electric grid was met by distributed solar facilities, driving demand for traditional generation to an all-time low. 

Governor Healey has prioritized advancing the solar industry and encouraging development to increase energy supply and lower costs. The administration recently issued emergency regulations for the state’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program to advance solar development in Massachusetts, ahead of Congressional Republicans and President Trump’s rollbacks of federal solar initiatives. The updated SMART program will help attract and accelerate solar development in Massachusetts as other states slow down. This program is expected to provide customers with $300 million in savings per year. Additionally, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act would expand the state’s procurement authority to include solar and support flexible interconnection solutions, further accelerating this affordable clean energy source. 

“Solar power is an affordable clean energy source that’s critical to the state’s energy independence, security, and economy,” said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Dr. Emily Reichert. “Massachusetts’ Solar for All Program is expected to provide tens of thousands of households with reliable clean energy, lowering energy costs for families and supporting thousands of jobs. As solar power surges around the globe, the federal government’s decision to reverse this historic investment in our energy future is a massive economic mistake that will harm Massachusetts and the country." 

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