Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-18 · by Jennifer Mcdermott The Associated Press
A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency illegally terminated the $7 billion Solar for All program, which aimed to provide solar power access to over 900,000 lower-income Americans. The decision came after the EPA rescinded funding following the passage of President Trump’s tax and spending law in August 2025. Judge Mary McElroy determined that the EPA acted contrary to Congress's intent when it ended the program without proper authority. The ruling was celebrated by environmental justice advocates and labor organizations for its potential impact on creating clean-energy jobs and reducing energy costs for lower-income communities.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In August 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Trump terminated a $7 billion Solar for All program, aimed at making solar power accessible to over 900,000 lower-income Americans. The decision was made following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which Congress believed would repeal the program's authorization and funding. However, on Friday, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the EPA acted illegally by terminating the grants already awarded under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, established during the Biden administration as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee, determined that Congress intended for the EPA to continue administering the Solar for All grants and vacated the termination. The ruling was supported by a coalition including labor unions, environmental groups like the Conservation Law Foundation, and nonprofits such as Rhode Island Center for Justice and Solar United Neighbors, who argued that thousands of union jobs would be created if the program resumed.
While the judge's decision does not immediately guarantee the release of funds, it could lead to significant changes in how clean energy initiatives are funded and implemented across the U.S., impacting both environmental goals and job creation in disadvantaged communities.
Written for “Solar Program Revival Judgment” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
The Trump administration illegally terminated a $7 billion Solar for All program intended to make solar power accessible to more than 900,000 lower-income Americans, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled Friday.
asserted
judge → terminate → Island
The Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the Solar for All funds in August 2025 after President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending law passed in Congress a month earlier, with Administrator Lee Zeldin calling the Biden-era grant program a “boondoggle.”
asserted
Zeldin → rescind → program
District Judge Mary McElroy wrote in the ruling that Congress clearly intended the EPA to continue administering the Solar for All grants that were already obligated.
asserted
that → write → grants
The EPA acted contrary to this intent and without any other statutory authority when it terminated the program, McElroy wrote.
asserted
McElroy → act → program
She vacated the termination.
asserted
She → vacate → termination
The EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
asserted
EPA → respond → comment
The lawsuit filed in Rhode Island by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO labor organization and others — including the public interest law center Rhode Island Center for Justice and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors — highlighted the importance of the program for local workforces and lower-income communities seeking access to clean-energy project funding.
asserted
lawsuit → file → funding
Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, called the decision “a big victory” for states across the country.
asserted
Crowley → call → country
“If and when the program does get up and running, there will be thousands and thousands of union jobs created across the United States,” he said Friday.
asserted
he → get → States
Clean, affordable power like solar shouldn’t be a luxury, said Alex St. Pierre, vice president for environmental justice at Conservation Law Foundation, one of the nonprofit legal advocacy groups representing the plaintiffs.
asserted
Pierre → say → plaintiffs
“Communities have waited long enough,” St. Pierre said in a statement.
asserted
Pierre → wait → statement
“Nearly every family is looking for ways to cut their energy bill.
asserted
family → look → bill
These dollars should go where Congress intended: toward lower energy bills, less climate pollution, good jobs and cleaner air.”
asserted
Congress → go → bills
In May, for the first time, solar supplied more of the nation’s electricity than coal.
uncertain
solar → supply → coal
The Trump administration has targeted a host of programs and policies dedicated to clean energy.
asserted
administration → target → energy
The $7 billion Solar for All program was part of the $27 billion “green bank,” formally known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
asserted
program → know → Fund
It was established in the Democratic-backed climate law passed in 2022 under former President Joe Biden.
asserted
It → establish → Biden
The attorneys general of more than a dozen states also sued over the canceled solar program funding.
asserted
general → sue → funding
A federal judge in Washington dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction in June.
asserted
judge → dismiss → June
The plaintiffs have appealed.
asserted
plaintiffs → appeal → ?
The other $20 billion, also canceled by the Trump administration, was slated for eight community development banks and nonprofit organizations for tens of thousands of projects to combat the effects of climate change, such as residential energy efficiency projects to larger-scale investments such as community cooling.
asserted
billion → cancel → cooling
A divided federal appeals court said last month that the Trump administration improperly terminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, handing a win to a coalition of nonprofits picked to run the effort.
asserted
administration → say → effort
The Aporia
