INDIANA – On Monday, April 22, 2024, the EPA announced the $7 billion Solar For All competition awardees. This grant opportunity was made available to states, territories, municipalities, and eligible nonprofits through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to provide low-income and disadvantaged households across America access to affordable solar energy and the benefits of customer-owned and community solar.
The EPA chose a coalition of Indiana organizations and cities that have been working towards energy justice to make these funds available to residents and community projects. The Indiana Community Action Association leads this coalition. It includes Black Sun Light Sustainability in partnership with the Indiana State Conference of the NAACP, the Indiana Energy Independence Fund, Energy Matters Community Coalition, Faith in Place, Solar United Neighbors of Indiana, Earth Charter Indiana, and the cities of Fort Wayne, Gary, and Indianapolis.
The Indiana Solar for All Coalition was one of 113 nonprofits that sought funding through the program. A complete list of Solar For All awards recipients can be found here.
The Solar for All funds will provide an essential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy resilience, improved air quality, new jobs in the growing green technology sector, and home energy savings for struggling Hoosiers. Several projects by the Indiana coalition will also be new community solar installations. Community solar is necessary for providing clean energy access to multifamily housing, renters, and those without ideal rooftop spaces.
Providing this historic funding for clean, customer and community-owned solar energy is building power for low-income and disadvantaged families.
Indiana Solar United Neighbors Program Director Zach Schalk said, “The sun shines everywhere, but historically, not everyone has benefited from solar energy. Solar for All offers an unprecedented opportunity to equitably expand access to the benefits of local solar energy to more Hoosiers than ever before. This investment will empower families around the state to save money and take control of where their energy comes from.”
