A federal judge has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unlawfully canceled the $7 billion Solar for All program, striking down the agency’s decision to end a nationwide program designed to lower electricity bills and bring affordable solar power to families and communities across the country.
“The court ruled the Trump administration never should have terminated Solar for All because Congress intended it to continue, and EPA broke the law when it killed the program and pocketed the money,” said Nick Torrey, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. “Electricity bills are skyrocketing, so low-cost solar projects — which guarantee big savings — are needed now more than ever. Today’s victory means EPA must stop sitting on the $7 billion in funding for this program and start getting it out into communities to provide hardworking American families much-needed relief.”
In 2024, the EPA awarded $7 billion for the Solar for All program, estimating the program would reach more than 900,000 households, save families $350 million a year on electricity bills (totaling at least $8 billion), and support 200,000 jobs and workforce training opportunities.
In August 2025, the Trump administration abruptly canceled the program before much of that funding could reach communities. CLF, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) and the Lawyers Committee for Rhode Island, filed the lawsuit last October on behalf of workers, businesses, nonprofits and individuals harmed by EPA’s cancelation. Plaintiffs include the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, Rhode Island Center for Justice, Solar United Neighbors, an individual homeowner and solar businesses. Attorneys general from 23 states also sued the EPA for terminating the Solar for All program.
“Today’s ruling confirms what we have argued from the beginning: EPA cannot erase a $7 billion program that Congress created and funded. For more than a year, families and communities have seen higher energy bills while billions of dollars intended to lower electricity costs sat out of reach. Today’s decision makes clear that EPA unlawfully terminated the Solar for All Program,” said Jillian Blanchard, Senior Vice President of Climate Change and Environmental Justice at L4GG.
Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee in Rhode Island, was the one to vacate the EPA’s decision to terminate the program. She determined that the EPA did not have the power to rescind funds that were already awarded.
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