Second federal judge overturns $7B Solar for All cancellation by Trump administration

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency illegally shut down Solar for All, a $7 billion federal program meant to help expand access to rooftop and community solar, particularly for low-income households. The ruling came in a lawsuit from Harris County, Texas, and follows a similar decision last week from a federal judge in Rhode Island. Both judges found the EPA's cancellation of the program broke the law. The EPA says it is reviewing the rulings and may appeal.

Solar for All was created under the Inflation Reduction Act to help lower-income households save on energy costs through solar power. The EPA had ended the program in August, saying a new federal law gave it the authority to do so, but the judge disagreed, ruling the decision applied to the entire program nationwide, not just Harris County's grant. A separate lawsuit from 22 states was dismissed earlier this year.

For homeowners, this mainly matters if you live in an area that had a Solar for All grant, since those programs were designed to help income-qualified households pay for solar installations. The legal fight isn't over, and the EPA could still appeal, so it is not clear yet whether or when funding will actually flow again. If you were hoping to use a local Solar for All program to help cover solar costs, it is worth checking with your state or local housing or energy office for updates on whether the program is available again.