Harris County, Texas organizations locked out of $400 million in federal funds to expand solar

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Over $400 million in federal funding aimed at expanding access to solar energy in Texas is currently frozen, hindering efforts to implement clean energy programs in disadvantaged communities. This funding is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's $7 billion Solar for All initiative, established under the Biden administration's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The funds were initially paused by the Trump administration due to concerns over potential waste and fraud, and despite federal court orders to release the funds, the EPA has indicated that some grants remain inaccessible.

Harris County, which leads a coalition of cities in Texas, secured nearly $250 million from the Solar for All program to help residents afford solar panels and provide backup power to community centers. However, the county has only received a small fraction of its allocated funds, which has raised concerns about the viability of the program. The Clean Energy Fund of Texas also faces challenges in accessing its $156 million grant, which is intended to support solar initiatives at historically Black colleges and universities. The ongoing funding freeze threatens to derail these clean energy efforts, as local organizations may lack the financial resources to proceed without the promised federal support.