EPA Head Joins Vermont Officials to Launch National Solar Program

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaking at Wednesday’s event Credit: Katie Futterman ©️ Seven Days

Vermont’s congressional delegation, along with the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, launched a $7 billion grant program on Wednesday that is meant to increase access to affordable solar energy.

“For the first time in the history of our country, we have a major public policy commitment to move away from fossil fuels and fully embrace clean energy options,” U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said.

He was flanked by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) and EPA Administrator Michael Regan at the Waterbury headquarters of solar company SunCommon. The federal officials unveiled the new national program, dubbed Solar for All, which aims to help with two issues: transitioning away from fossil fuels and ensuring working families can afford solar energy.

The grants will allow local officials to create new programs for low-income households and expand existing ones such as SunCommon’s, which helps Vermonters install solar panels at no cost.
The idea is to increase access to residential rooftop and community solar power using financial support and incentives. It’s meant to help low-income households reap the benefits, too — including energy savings and resiliency, and community ownership .

“This is a program for regular people,” Balint said.

States, territories, tribal governments, municipalities and eligible nonprofits can apply for the grants by September 26. The government expects to award as many as 60 grants of varying sizes. The money was included in the Inflation Reduction Act, which was enacted in August 2022.

The benefits will be available within the year, according to Regan.

“This is not a paternalistic approach,” Regan said. “Nonprofits and communities and locally elected officials know their communities better than the federal government.”

Without any rebates, it currently costs about $18,000 to install home solar panels in Vermont. The new program will allow people to install panels at no upfront cost and instead pay off a loan over several years. And it will substantially lower — or eliminate — people’s electricity bills, Sanders said. In fact, Solar for All guarantees participants in the program will save a minimum of 20 percent on their electric bills.

“You’re not going to pay one nickel more than you were paying in your electric bill,” said Sanders, who championed the Solar for All program in the Senate. Ian Shea, a homeowner and teacher in Waterbury, told those assembled about his experience switching to solar energy with SunCommon. The monthly electric bills he was paying have been replaced by his monthly loan payments. Once he pays that off, he will not pay for any energy. Shea also receives monthly energy statements, in which he can see that he is producing more than he’s using.

“Not only do I own my house here but I own my energy,” Shea said.

Regan said the idea is to allow millions more Americans do the same.

“It’s time to empower our communities nationwide, and it’s time to work together to build a healthier, cleaner future for all, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Regan said.