Nearly two dozen states sue to stop Trump ending $7bn solar grant program

"Nearly two dozen states are suing the Trump administration over its cancellation of a $7bn grant program aimed at expanding solar energy in low-income communities, according to court papers. In a statement on Thursday, California's attorney general, Rob Bonta, announced two lawsuits by a group of states that received grants under the Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All program. The EPA's administrator, Lee Zeldin, announced the termination of the program in August."

"Arizona's attorney general, Kris Mayes, said the cancellation of the program would affect 900,000 low-income households nationwide. Some 11,000 low-income households in Arizona will see a 20% spike in energy bills after the state lost $156m for Solar for All. The lawsuit is among dozens the country's 23 Democratic attorneys general have filed against the Trump administration on issues ranging from suspension of federal grants to immigration and deployment of national guard troops to cities."

"The first complaint seeks monetary damages and was filed on Wednesday in the court of federal claims. A second suit will seek reinstatement of the program and is expected to be filed later on Thursday in federal court in Washington state, Bonta's statement said. California will lose around $250m in congressionally obligated funds for the program, Bonta said. The Trump administration is trying to hold us in the past, tethered to fossil fuel companies, he said in the online call."

Nearly two dozen states have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over cancellation of a $7bn Solar for All grant program designed to expand solar energy in low-income communities. California and Arizona received grants and allege significant harms, including California losing about $250m in congressionally obligated funds and Arizona losing $156m, which will cause about 11,000 Arizona households to face a 20% energy-bill increase and affect roughly 900,000 low-income households nationwide. One suit seeks monetary damages in the court of federal claims; a second seeks reinstatement in federal court. The program termination followed a law that eliminated its funding and an EPA administrator calling it a boondoggle.

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