Dem Gov. Tony Evers urged the Trump administration to drop plans to eliminate federal grants supporting solar power efforts, saying the effort “has no legitimate purpose or justification.”
Evers’ letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin cited a New York Times report that the agency was seeking to terminate “Solar for All” grants.
In April, Wisconsin was awarded $62.4 million to fund solar systems for low-and moderate-income households. Since then, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has been developing program guidelines to dole out the funds, which would also go to community solar projects.
According to the guv’s letter, the program could serve more than 7,400 Wisconsin households, saving each up to $500 a year.
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“At a time when energy demand continues to increase, it is unfathomable for the Trump Administration to unnecessarily—and potentially illegally—terminate funding for a program designed to deploy affordable, renewable energy systems,” Evers wrote.
An EPA spokesperson said the agency was reviewing Evers’ letter.
Zeldin posted a video on social media touting the effort to end the program, saying one of the more “shocking aspects” of Solar for All is the pass throughs the money was set to go through with middle men “taking their own cut” and calling it a “grift.”’
He said the One Big Beautiful Bill provided clear language for the EPA to end the program.
“The bottom line again is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive,” Zeldin said.
