In time for Earth Day, the Biden administration has revealed that it is rolling out $7 billion in federal grants for solar power projects to benefit low-income communities.
The president will announce this new climate action project in Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia, where he will celebrate Earth Day 2024.
Biden Administration to Provide Solar Power Projects to 900,000 Households
The new funding will be disbursed from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Solar for All program, which will provide residential solar power projects to more than 900,000 low-income and disadvantaged households nationwide.
The program will also contribute to the administration's goal of achieving a zero-carbon power sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.
"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," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
(Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
An employee with Ipsun Solar installs solar panels on the roof of the Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia on May 17, 2021. - Using donations, the church installed a 60.48 kilowatt solar instillation to bring down their carbon footprint.
New US Solar Projects to Create More Jobs
The administration also claims that solar projects supported by this program will generate nearly 200,000 jobs. The program also supports Biden's Justice40 initiative, which aims to direct 40% of federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments to underserved communities.
According to reports, Biden is also going to announce that his American Climate Corps will launch ClimateCorps.gov, a website where applicants can view 2,000 open positions in 36 states, including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The Climate Corps intends to hire more than 20,000 young people by training them to install solar panels, operate LiDAR cameras that detect methane emissions, and restore mangrove ecosystems, White House officials confirm.
According to the White House, this series of climate investments has brought in hundreds of billions in private sector investment while generating over 270,000 new clean energy jobs.
Read Also: EPA Sets National Limits for 'Forever Chemicals' in US Drinking Water
The US Is Catching Up on Solar Power Investments
Despite recent investments, the United States has a long way to go in terms of solar energy. According to government data, solar energy accounts for only about 3.4% of total electricity generation in the United States, up from 2.8% in 2021.
In 2022, solar accounted for 15.9% of all renewable-generated electricity, up from 13.5% in 2021. In the United States, a residential solar system typically costs between $10,290 and $20,580.
In other news, the United States is reportedly planning to grant a petition filed by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Qcells to restore tariffs on a prominent solar panel technology believed to be from China, among other countries.
This is the first time the Qcells request has been reported. The company is attempting to defend against competition from lower-cost Asian products as it seeks to expand its solar manufacturing presence in the United States, with a $2.5 billion investment.
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