22/04/2024
Happy 🌎 Day to us! So much gratitude for so many people who made this happen.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 22, 2024
Contact: Shannon Anderson, Earth Charter Indiana, [email protected]
317-987-5559
Indiana Coalition Awarded Solar for All Funding
A new day has dawned for solar energy in Indiana!
On Monday, April 22, 2024, the EPA announced the awardees of the $7 billion Solar For All competition. This grant opportunity was made available to states, territories, municipalities, and eligible nonprofits through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to provide low-income and disadvantaged households across America access the affordable solar energy and the benefits of customer-owned and community solar.
A coalition of Indiana organizations and cities that have been working towards energy justice were chosen by the EPA to make these funds available to residents and community projects. This coalition is led by the Indiana Community Action Association and includes Black Sun Light Sustainability in partnership with Indiana State Conference of the NAACP, the Indiana Energy Independence Fund, Energy Matters Community Coalition, Faith in Place, Solar United Neighbors of Indiana, Earth Charter Indiana, and the cities of Fort Wayne, Gary, and Indianapolis.
The Indiana Solar for All Coalition was one of 113 non profits that sought funding through the program. A complete list of recipients of Solar For All awards can be found here.
The Solar for All funds will not only provide an essential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but also energy resilience, improved air quality, new jobs in the growing green technology sector, and home energy savings for struggling Hoosiers. Several projects by the Indiana coalition will also be new community solar installations. Community solar is a necessary tool for providing clean energy access to multifamily housing, renters, and those without ideal rooftop spaces.
Providing this historic funding for clean, customer and community-owned solar energy is literally building power for low-income and disadvantaged families.
Indiana Solar United Neighbors Program Director Zach Schalk said, “The sun shines everywhere, but historically not everyone has been able to benefit from solar energy. Solar for All offers an unprecedented opportunity to equitably expand access to the benefits of local solar energy to more Hoosiers than ever before. This investment will empower families around the state to save money and take control of where their energy comes from."
