PA House Bill 362 – PA Energy Development Authority
Pennsylvania takes first step to access low-income solar funds – Julie Grant, March 18, 2025 – The Allegheny Front – Solar advocates in Pennsylvania cheered a first-round vote by the state House Energy Committee of HB 362, which allows the state to accept millions in federal money for the Solar for All program.
Low-income solar installation money inaccessible, for now – by Lauren Jessop, The Center Square, February 10, 2025 – The House Energy Committee heard testimony last week in support of unlocking the [Solar for All] program, which intends to reduce electricity bills for low-to-moderate income households across the commonwealth. Rep. Craig Williams asked Emily Schapira, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, “if she would commit to net metering reform to ensure solar customers share these costs and prevent the financial burden from falling on non-solar customers.”
Green Bank Litigation – EPA Actions To Cancel Contracts On Hold
Judge bars Trump’s EPA from taking back $20B in climate grants – for now – by Zack Colman, Politico, March 18, 2025 – A federal judge temporarily blocked the EPA’s attempt to recoup $20 billion in Biden-era climate grants, dealing the latest judicial setback for President Trump’s attempt to assert unilateral control over spending. Tuesday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan prevents EPA from reclaiming money it had deposited at Citibank for the groups Climate United, Coalition for Green Capital and Power Forward Communities. But the decision did not revive those groups’ ability to draw from the funds, postponing that decision until after further court proceedings. The ruling orders EPA and climate change groups to return to court to argue about the fate of the money.
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from terminating $14 billion in ‘green bank’ grants – by Michael Phillis & Matthew Daly, Associated Press – Mar 19, 2025
Judge halts EPA effort to claw back green bank funds by Rachel Frazin, 03/19/25, The Hill – Judge Chutkan ordered that the EPA’s decision to terminate the grants cannot take effect & that the agency and Citibank, which is holding the funds, can’t transfer them elsewhere.
Judge halts Trump EPA bid to kill $14 billion Biden climate grant fund – by Spencer S. Hsu – Wash. Post – March 18, 2025 – The admin. has failed to show “credible evidence” of the fraud it cited to freeze Citibank funds & kill the signature Biden “green bank” program.
District Judge Orders Stay on EPA’s Unlawful Termination of Grant Agreement March 18, 2025 – Climate United Fund Press Release
82 House Members Sign Letter Calling for EPA to Direct Citi to release the CCIA/NCIF Funds – The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to demand that the EPA direct Citibank to immediately release the legally obligated money from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. See Letter Here.
New Federal Funding/Green Bank Cases Filed This Week
NEW CASE FILING – Minnesota AG sues Trump administration for holding up green project funds – Keith Ellison says he’s “opposing yet one more illegal power grab by the Trump administration.” by Allison Kite The Minnesota Star Tribune – March 19, 2025
NEW CASE FILING – Nonprofit organizations, cities nationwide challenge Trump administration’s federal funding freeze – Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) – March 19, 2025 – SELC filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division, on behalf of 11 nonprofit organizations and six cities.
More than a dozen judges have said Trump and Co. probably broke the law – by Aaron Blake – Washington Post – March 20, 2025 – In more than a dozen cases & in three major rulings this week, a federal judge has ruled that the administration either has violated the law or has probably done so. The total works out to one such finding about every four days.
EPA Announces Audit of Solar for All Program
EPA watchdog launches audit of $7B solar program – By Jean Chemnick | 03/20/2025 E&E News – The scrutiny comes as Solar for All and other Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund programs face attacks from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
Audit of the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund – Solar for All Program – March 19, 2025 – The U.S. EPA’s Office of Inspector General plans to begin an audit of the EPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s Solar for All program. This audit is to review and provide information on the Solar for All program and its activities. See EPA OIG Memo Here.
Clean Energy Tax Credits: 21 House Republicans Sign Letter of Support
The Republicans Pushing Trump to Save Biden’s Clean Energy Tax Credits – By David Gelles – New York Times – March 17, 2025 – A growing group of Republicans & business leaders is rallying behind an unlikely cause – to protect Biden-era tax credits for wind, solar and other clean energy. President Trump has made dismantling federal efforts to address climate change a signature part of his agenda, eliminating environmental regulations, withholding congressionally approved funding, firing workers, halting permitting for wind energy developments and fast-tracking fossil fuel projects. But the clean energy tax credits, signed into law by President Biden in 2022 as part of the IRA, have helped spur a boom in manufacturing investment in the United States, especially in Republican districts.
Letter signed by 21 House Republicans supporting clean energy tax credits
The Man Behind the Republican Case for Clean Energy – by David Gelles – March 18, 2025 – New York Times – Rep. Andrew Garbarino of New York is at the center of a Republican push to save a key part of former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s climate agenda. Garbarino starts his pitch to fellow conservatives by trying to separate the tax credits from the IRA, which was deeply unpopular with Republicans. “I voted against the IRA, and there were policies in there that I didn’t agree with, just like every other Republican,” he said.
21 House Republicans oppose cutting clean energy credits to pay for tax cuts by Lamar Johnson – Utility Dive – March 11, 2025 – “Both our constituencies and the energy industry alike remain concerned about disruptive changes to our nation’s energy tax structure,” the letter led by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., said.
New Arguments To Defend IRA Clean Energy Tax Credits
Want Cheap Power, Fast? Solar and Wind Firms Have a Suggestion. – By Brad Plumer Reporting from Houston – New York Times – March 17, 2025 – Renewable energy companies are shifting strategy under President Trump, emphasizing the economic benefits of low-carbon electricity. Because an environmental argument won’t get far with a president who dismisses global warming, many wind and solar companies are now casting their industries as essential to achieving U.S. energy abundance.
Gutting clean energy incentives would drive up electric bills by Jeff St. John – Canary Media – March 20, 2025 – Rising energy costs are a problem in the U.S. Ending IRA tax credits and ramping up fossil fuels would make it even worse. “We looked at a state-by-state level at energy bills as well as jobs and economic growth,” said Robbie Orvis, Energy Innovation’s director of modeling and analysis. “Across the board, repealing the IRA is going to make it more expensive for the average household — and in some states, dramatically.”
Four New Reports on IRA Cuts & Rising Consumer Costs
- Inflation Reduction Act Repeal Harms State Economies, Raises Consumer Costs Energy Innovation – March 19, 2025 – IRA repeal will increase cumulative household energy costs by $32 billion from 2025-2035. REPEALING FEDERAL ENERGY TAX CREDITS AND FUNDING WILL HARM PENNSYLVANIA’S ECONOMY (2-Pages) Energy Innovation – March 19, 2025
- Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) Report – A Report from the Clean Energy Buyers Association, an industry trade group, found that repealing two of the tax credits “would raise average U.S. residential electricity prices by nearly 7 percent by 2026,” amounting to an annual increase of more than $110 for the average American residential customer. Repealing Clean Energy Tax Credits Would Raise Electricity Prices for American Families and Job Creators Across the United States– February 25, 2025 Clean Energy Buyers Association State by State Breakout of Cost Increases
- Congressional Republicans’ Plan To Cut Clean Energy Investments Would Cause Higher Energy Bills and Job Losses Across States – The clean energy supply chain spurred by U.S. investment has created jobs and helped to lower electricity costs; repealing these investments midstream would increase electricity prices for households and businesses in nearly every state. – Center for American Progress – March 19, 2025. See Chart – Impacts of repealing clean energy investments would be felt across states
- Brattle Group/ConservAmerica Report – a conservative environmental group, estimated that repealing IRA tax credits could cause U.S. electricity costs to rise by $51 billion per year by 2035, largely because wind and solar additions would decline by 50 percent and become more expensive. A Wide Array of Resources is Needed to Meet Growing U.S. Energy Demand – Brattle Group – February 2025
Great Explainer Paragraph – Why clean power is cheaper power
The reason repealing these tax credits would drive up costs is simple, Orvis said. Solar and wind energy can supply U.S. power grids with electricity at lower long-term cost than alternatives such as coal, gas, and nuclear power plants. The more of it that can be built, the more it can supplant those costlier resources.
Over the past decade, solar and wind power have become the cheapest source of new electricity generation across the majority of the world, according to the International Energy Agency. Those cost advantages have been driven primarily by technology improvements and economies of scale of production as well as the deployment of solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, and wind turbines, although government subsidies have played an important role.
In the U.S., newly built solar and wind farms can provide power at a cheaper rate than 99% of the country’s remaining coal plants. Even fossil gas, the workhorse of the U.S. grid, struggles to compete with new clean energy. A study from think tank RMI found that portfolios of solar, wind, and batteries paired with utility energy-efficiency investments can serve grid needs at a lower cost than newly built gas-fired power plants.
What’s more, the cost of solar and wind power isn’t tied to fluctuations in the price of fossil gas, which has driven significant electricity price increases in the past several years, Orvis said. That lack of fuel cost, along with lower operations and maintenance costs, make wind and solar a long-run winner financially.
[From Gutting clean energy will drive up electric bills by Jeff St. John Canary Media – 3/20/25]
Environmental Protection Network
NEW – Federal Funding Opportunities and Guidance – March 19, 2025