(AGENPARL) - Roma, 23 Aprile 2024 -

(AGENPARL) – mar 23 aprile 2024 Issued: Apr 23, 2024 (3:08pm EDT)
If you wish to unsubscribe please do so
here: http://url6130.epa.mediaroom.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iqz6hAvLdUl-2FaSixKUG3iyFJBsxNAroAZOQ1BID8fKIiLAUfJX2sQlhu1tzKAOIu-2BU84uzAzSpWvmWyHnsNJDRYXWx5dlMz75Zp9ch-2BQlG6mQHPYjReZhS13hvd5qOopPbKf_-2B0Ok6Af7hyz7Kqg6CR74pYblAA1WjrUjKSJUAiv3NOub0DC4O7JPWGxIlQ7kBB-2FSfti9-2Fv-2B4Xz1YuDm2NmkdlE7CnB-2B0Y0sNEKd4d6kSYcAdBM-2BVLqxmogcyKosCb41idiCCCV87PtDXip5T66tL4KgPtr3vjUm2IhZ90-2Btcj7wWg83G6qJD8SSrKa4-2BUCdZQs3Wm7cnVACxBIouq2GuQ8FAvDwkTG833fhnygcGCBzjDujLdhVNNMvvUebXWXMyBpR-2F4KihXrNvms3t-2BxJBdA-3D-3D
Reaction to EPA’s Solar for All Shows Positive Momentum
for Solar Power Across NJ, NY, PR and USVI
NEW YORK (April 23, 2024) – Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency selected four agencies in EPA Region 2, which includes New Jersey, New
York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to receive a total of almost
$625 million through the Solar for All grant program. The funding will be
leveraged to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and
disadvantaged communities to benefit from solar power.
The selectees within EPA’s Region 2 are:
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, selected to receive $156.1 million
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, selected to receive
$249.8 million
Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget, selected to receive $156.1
million
Virgin Islands Energy Office, selected to receive $62.5 million
This award is part of the historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund,
which was created under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to lower
energy costs for families, create good-quality jobs in communities that have
been left behind, advance environmental justice and tackle the climate crisis.
The national announcement can be found in EPA’s Newsroom. A complete list of
the selected applicants can be found on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
Solar for All website.
Here’s what officials are saying across the region:
New Jersey:
“New Jersey is once again utilizing innovative strategies and equitable
clean energy solutions to leverage the Biden Administration’s landmark
investments,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “In addition to
mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening New Jersey’s grid
infrastructure, the projects supported by this unprecedented funding will
produce significant cost-savings for hard-working New Jersey families,
including tens of thousands of overburdened households across the state. I
want to thank President Biden and his administration, as well as our
congressional delegation, for delivering transformative and necessary climate
funding in the Inflation Reduction Act.” 
“I am thrilled that New Jersey has received $156 million to tackle the major
barriers that have prevented the adoption of solar energy by low-income and
disadvantaged households,” said Senator Cory Booker. “This historic
investment by EPA’s $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was made
possible by Democrats and President Biden through the Inflation Reduction Act,
which is actively lowering energy costs for families and creating a cleaner
environment for all.” 
“Today’s announcement is a huge step forward in the transition to a clean
economy. These investments will help ensure New Jersey is ready to do our part
to tackle the challenges of the climate crisis head on. As Chairman of the
Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress, I fought to include significant
funding for investments in renewable energy so that we can empower Americans
with new, good-paying jobs and lower energy costs. The Solar for All program
is a shining example of those efforts,” said U.S. Representative Frank
Pallone (NJ-06). “I’m proud that our state is leading the way forward
toward a clean, low-carbon future and proving that we don’t have to choose
between growing our economy and fighting climate change.” 
“Today’s announcement from the Biden administration underscores the
transformative power of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund as we move toward a clean energy future,” said U.S.
Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09). “My Democratic colleagues and I
fought hard to pass this legislation because our children and our
grandchildren deserve to inherit a clean and sustainable environment. With
this announcement today, I am thrilled to see our shared vision of a clean
energy future taking shape. This initiative is a critical step forward in
making renewable energy accessible to all Americans, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, and fostering economic growth in our communities. I look forward to
continuing this vital work alongside President Biden.” 
“As a former electrician, I know how important our continued investment in
solar power is to lower energy costs for working families, create jobs, and
reduce our carbon footprint,” said U.S. Representative Norcross (NJ-01).
“The Inflation Reduction Act continues to deliver for New Jersey, and the
Solar for All program will accelerate the benefits of clean energy throughout
South Jersey. I’m proud to have worked with President Biden to enact this
historic investment in our climate and our communities, and I will continue to
support clean energy and its economic opportunities.” 
“I fought hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act because bold federal
action was greatly needed to address the climate crisis and support states and
residents through the transition to clean energy. With the Solar for All
program, we are making clean energy more affordable and lowering families’
monthly utility bills. I want to thank the EPA for awarding New Jersey this
grant and I look forward to the strides our state will make accelerating solar
usage and lowering our carbon footprint with this funding,” said U.S.
Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11). 
New York:
“New York State has positioned itself as a leader in community solar,
ensuring more residents than ever before have access to clean, affordable
solar energy,” said New York Governor Hochul. “We thank President Biden,
Administrator Regan, and the New York Congressional Delegation for their
support and are proud to partner with the Environmental Protection Agency to
advance this historic investment in community solar and build a clean and
healthy future for New Yorkers.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act is powering a major $250 million boost in
residential solar power for families across the Empire State. This is a
win-win-win: helping New York fight climate change, lowering costs, and
creating new, good-paying jobs,” said Senate Majority Leader Charles
Schumer. “Solar is one of the most cost-effective forms of electricity and
one of the easiest ways to help families lower their energy bills every month.
I was proud to support NYSERDA’s Solar for All application and this Earth
Day, the future of New York’s energy grid is looking sunny, clean, and
bright thanks to the historic investments of our Inflation Reduction Act.” 
“Thanks to the Biden Administration’s award of nearly $250 million in Solar
for All grants to New York, we are set to significantly advance our climate
goals by enabling solar installations for numerous low-income and
disadvantaged households across the state,” said U.S. Representative Jerrold
Nadler (NY-12). “I am proud to have supported this crucial funding through the
landmark Inflation Reduction Act, and I am thankful to the Biden
Administration for choosing New York to benefit from this transformative
program.” 
“This Earth Day, I am proud that our state is taking significant steps to
curb the use of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. This $250
million in funding for New York State under the Solar for All grant program
will help deliver solar power to working families, lowering energy bills and
emissions in the process,” said U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez
(NY-07).  “I was proud to vote in favor of the Solar for All program
through the Inflation Reduction Act, and I thank the Biden administration and
Governor Hochul for helping make this possible.” 
“This announcement is yet another powerful step in furthering environmental
justice, supporting good paying jobs, and cutting energy costs,” said U.S.
Representative Paul Tonko (NY-20). “Solar offers tremendous advantages, from
helping our nation reach its renewable energy goals, to reducing power bills
for families and communities, but for far too many families, these benefits
are out of reach. That is why I was proud to support the Solar for All program
in the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which will ensure that all Americans,
regardless of their income or zip code, have the opportunity to share in the
benefits of our clean energy economy. I’m immensely grateful to the Biden
Administration for their unwavering commitment to an equitable clean energy
future.”
“The best way to celebrate Earth Day is with real action to protect our
environment—and that’s exactly what the Solar for All grant awards will
help do,” said U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (NY-25). “Investing in
solar energy is essential to reducing our carbon footprint while also lowering
costs for families and creating high-quality job opportunities in our
communities. I’m proud to support these efforts to invest in sustainability
and work towards a clean future for all Americans.” 
“Thanks to the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda,
sunlight will power millions more homes across the country, including right
here in New York State,” said U.S. representative Tom Suozzi (NY-03).
“Solar for All means that low and middle-income New Yorkers will not only
breathe cleaner air as we generate more power from clean energy sources, but
will also see their electricity costs go down as widespread solar helps
stabilize the grid at peak times. Solar energy is a win for us all.”
“I want to thank President Biden for working with us to take swift and bold
executive action to protect the planet by launching the American Climate
Corps, and secondly for investing billions in clean, resilient energy via the
Solar for All competition, among so many other significant climate
victories,” said U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). 
USVI:
“I am very pleased that the Virgin Islands Energy Office was selected to
receive the Solar for All grant through EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
Providing opportunities for energy resilience is paramount to improving the
quality of life for underserved residents and families. We deserve reliable,
affordable, and clean power like more wealthy communities. Living on an
isolated small island with limited resources makes affordable clean energy
even more challenging. The Solar for All program will make the goal for
affordable resilient clean energy even more achievable, as well as deliver
household savings, increase access for low-income and disadvantaged
households, facilitate ownership models that support communities build equity
projects, increase resiliency by way of creating capacity, and invest in
quality jobs and business,” said U.S. Representative Stacey Plaskett
(USVI). 
“The US Virgin Islands as a whole are a disadvantaged community that has
been historically burdened by centralized fossil fuel-based power systems that
suffer from high energy costs, and low reliability. The Virgin Islands Energy
Office’s successful selection of its Solar for All application has presented a
historic opportunity for the territory to fast-track an equitable energy
transition that holistically leverages our islands’ most abundant natural
resource,” said Kyle Fleming, Director of the Virgin Islands Energy Office.