Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Solar for All

The Inflation Reduction Act amends the Clean Air Act to include Section 134 (42 USC § 7434), which authorizes the EPA to make competitive grants for Zero-Emissions Technologies. EPA awarded $7 billion in competitive grants to implement Clean Air Act

Under the Solar for All Program of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, EPA awarded $7 billion in competitive grants to states, municipalities, Tribal governments, and "eligible recipients" (as defined in Section 134(c)(1) of the Clean Air Act). Grantees must direct all funding to provide financial and technical assistance to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy or benefit from zero-emission technologies. This funding will prioritize delivering financial and technical assistance to projects that deploy residential and community solar, associated storage technologies, and related upgrades. Additionally, this program will support the creation of high-paying jobs.

States, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible recipients, as those terms are defined in the Clean Air Act, are eligible for grants from this competition. The term "state" is defined in Section 302(d) of the Clean Air Act to include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianna Islands. "Tribal governments" include Federally recognized Tribes, consistent with Section 302(r) of the Clean Air Act. "Municipality" is defined in Section 302(f) of the Clean Air Act to include a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, or other public body created by or pursuant to State law. Definitions of states, municipalities, and Tribal governments include agencies or instrumentalities of states, municipalities, or tribes. Section 134(c)(1) defines "eligible recipient" as a nonprofit organization that (A) is designed to provide capital, leverage private capital and provide other forms of financial assistance for the rapid deployment of low- and zero-emission products, technologies, and services; (B) does not take deposits other than deposits from repayments and other revenue received from financial assistance using the grant funds; (C) is funded by public or charitable contributions; and (D) invests in or finances projects alone or in conjunction with other investors. As described under the "Assistance Listing Description" above, these funds must benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities, which will be defined in the NOFO. In the NOFO, EPA may limit which eligible recipients may apply for the competitive funding opportunity under this assistance listing, consistent with EPA's Policy on the Competition of Assistance Agreements.

This program will have widespread benefits to residents of the United States in low-income and disadvantaged communities across the country through the deployment of zero-emissions technologies, including residential and community solar, associated storage technologies, and related upgrades.

Grantees must direct all funding to provide financial and technical assistance to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy or benefit from zero-emission technologies. Please refer to the Frequent Questions about Solar for All web page (https://www.epa.gov/greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund/frequent-questions-about-solar-all#national) for information on how assistance may be used under this program, or if there are any funding use restrictions.

Please refer to the Frequent Questions about Solar for All web page (https://www.epa.gov/greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund/frequent-questions-about-solar-all#national) for information on how assistance may be used under this program, or if there are any funding use restrictions.

Grant agreements began in 2024 and the project period is five years. The agreements were fully funded.

Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the NOFO. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the NOFO.

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing were described in the NOFO.

EPA reviewed and evaluated applications in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the NOFO. The competition was conducted in accordance with EPA's Policy for the Competition of Assistance Agreements.

EPA announced the competition in early Summer 2023 through Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) EPA-R-HQ-SFA-23-01, issued June 23, 2023. The NOFO closed on October 12, 2023. Sixty (60) grant recipients were selected for award. EPA does not anticipate additional competitions for Solar for All. The Inflation Reduction Act requires EPA to award all Solar for All funds by September 30, 2024.

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E - Disputes, as applicable.