Rhode Island judge voids EPA's termination of $7B Solar for All program
A federal judge ruled the Trump administration illegally killed a Biden-era solar grant program for low-income households, ordering it reinstated.
What to know
- A federal judge in Rhode Island vacated the EPA's August 2025 termination of the $7 billion Solar for All program, finding it exceeded the agency's statutory authority.
- The program was meant to bring rooftop solar to more than 900,000 lower-income households and was part of the larger $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund created under Biden.
- A separate appeals court already found the broader $20 billion portion of the fund was improperly canceled; a parallel states' lawsuit over Solar for All was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds and is under appeal.
- Plaintiffs, led by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, argue reinstatement will restore union jobs and lower energy bills; the EPA has not yet responded to this ruling in the coverage provided.
The courts are rightly acting as a check on executive overreach.
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“Also kudos to the judge for reminding us congress holds the power of the purse.”
bigchungusprod · reddit ↗
Cutting solar incentives amid rising energy costs is self-defeating policy.
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“Given we are seeing a massive increase in energy costs - with more coming down the pipeline - it’s insane to shut down solar incentives. Unless you hate the USA why would you do this?”
bigchungusprod · reddit ↗
The ruling should motivate straight-ticket political action against the administration.
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“VOTE solid blue, no matter who, up and down. Then in 2028, any fake democrats like fetterman get primaried, but now is NOT the time for stupid self-indulgent Democrat purity tests.”
alternatingflan · reddit ↗
“Communities have waited long enough. Nearly every family is looking for ways to cut their energy bill. These dollars should go where Congress intended: toward lower energy bills, less climate pollution, good jobs and cleaner air.”
Alex St. Pierre, VP for Environmental Justice, Conservation Law Foundation · Denver Post (AP) ↗ · Sep 17
Mary McElroy U.S. District Judge, Rhode Island
Lee Zeldin EPA AdministratorPatrick Crowley President, Rhode Island AFL-CIOAlex St. Pierre VP for Environmental Justice, Conservation Law Foundation
Donald Trump President
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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Online commenters credit courts, tie ruling to energy costs and politics
Social and forum commenters framed the ruling as a check on executive overreach amid rising energy costs, with some linking it to broader political calls to vote against the administration.
“The EPA acted contrary to this intent and without any other statutory authority when it terminated the program.”
— Judge Mary McElroy, U.S. District Judge · source -
7 outlets Judge rules EPA illegally terminated $7 billion solar program intended to help poorer Americans
first by Chicago Tribune, 5d ago · also ZeroHedge, Orlando Sentinel, Mercury News, Baltimore Sun, Denver Post, Philadelphia Inquirer
1 more headline
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Big victory for Arizona: A court just ruled the Trump administration's attack on Solar for All was illegal. Congress created this program to help families get low-cost clean energy and cut their electricity bills. The EPA needs to release these funds now.
2 more of the top 3 · 24 posts in this stretch
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Judge rules EPA illegally ended $7B # solar program for low-income Americans https:// ctmirror.org/2026/09/18/trumps -solar-for-all-termination-ruled-illegal/ # CleanEnergy # AffordableEnergy
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For anyone wondering what this means on the ground: nothing changes overnight. The judge vacated the cancellation, but EPA has already said it's weighing an appeal, so I wouldn't expect money moving to projects until that plays out. Worth knowing how the program actually works, because a lot of people assume it's a tax credit. It isn't. The $7B…
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Plaintiffs and advocates hail ruling as a workforce and equity win
Rhode Island AFL-CIO president Patrick Crowley and Conservation Law Foundation's Alex St. Pierre celebrated the decision as restoring union jobs and lower energy bills for low-income communities.
“If and when the program does get up and running, there will be thousands and thousands of union jobs created across the United States. We were proud to be the lead plaintiff.”
— Patrick Crowley -
background
Judge McElroy vacates EPA's Solar for All termination — District Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee, ruled Congress clearly intended the EPA to keep administering already-obligated Solar for All grants and that the agency had no statutory authority to cancel them; she vacated the termination.
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background
Appeals court finds broader green bank fund improperly axed — A divided federal appeals court ruled the Trump administration improperly terminated the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a win for the nonprofit coalition chosen to administer it.
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background
Separate states' lawsuit dismissed on jurisdiction grounds — A federal judge in Washington dismissed a related case brought by attorneys general from more than a dozen states over the canceled funding, ruling for lack of jurisdiction; plaintiffs appealed.
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Rhode Island AFL-CIO and allies sue EPA over the cutoff — The Rhode Island AFL-CIO, joined by the Rhode Island Center for Justice and Solar United Neighbors, filed suit in Rhode Island arguing the termination was unlawful and harmed local workforces and low-income communities.
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background
EPA rescinds Solar for All grant funding — The EPA terminated the $7 billion Solar for All program after Trump's tax and spending law passed, with Administrator Lee Zeldin calling the Biden-era program a "boondoggle."
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by The Hill, 5d ago · also Washington Examiner, Utility Dive, CleanTechnica
3 more headlines
- Judge rules against Trump EPA efforts to terminate Solar for All program Washington Examiner · 5d ago
- Federal judge restores $7B Solar for All program, says EPA illegally axed it Utility Dive · 2d ago
- Federal Court Rules Cancellation Of Solar For All Program Was Unlawful CleanTechnica · 2d ago
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first by NewsMax.com, 5d ago · also Associated Press
1 more headline
- Judge Rules the EPA Illegally Terminated a $7 Billion Solar Program Associated Press · 5d ago
and 2 smaller pieces
What people are saying 21 voices from 3 sites · best of 24 · verbatim
- Yesterday
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A second federal judge has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency under Donald Trump unlawfully canceled a $7 billion grant program aimed at expanding solar energy in low-income communities https://www. reuters.com/legal/government/s econd-judge-finds-trumps-epa-unlawfully-nixed-7-billion-solar-grant-program-2026-09-23/
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More lawbreaking by captured EPA. Fossil fuel thugs lurking in background are cool with their stooges’ lawbreaking, so long as it helps them.
- Sep 22
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immoral too... Trump administration’s cancellation of a $7 billion program aimed at helping lower-income families install solar panels on their homes is illegal, says Judge
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Coffers are getting more difficult to raid so the grifters are seeking additional sources to pilfer.
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“#SolarForAll means lower utility bills, many thousands of good-paying jobs and real action to address the existential threat of # ClimateChange . That’s a win-win-win.” https://www. smartcitiesdive.com/news/epa-u nlawfully-canceled-7b-solar-for-all-program-judge-rules/830904/
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Nope. It’s was the Congress that gave the Authority with funding to pass down the grants
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Still not a win. Congressionally, monies are allocated but as the executive, he can withhold the monies that even SCOTUS even said in other decisions is allowed. The whole DODGE crap decisions
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Yes, but this is not a win for the solar industry. The Trump administration knew it would eventually be overturned. The whole purpose is to delay which costs the solar industry millions in delays. So this is a win for the Trump administration. And it’s not over yet. They will appeal the decision and drag it out a couple more years.
- Sep 21
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“the agency acted contrary to congressional intent and without statutory authority when it rescinded the program” # solar # energy # climate # inequality # EPA https:// pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/09/21 /federal-court-strikes-down-epa-cancellation-of-7-billion-solar-for-all-program/
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Eventually, maybe. EPA said it's reviewing the ruling and considering an appeal, so it probably depends on how that goes.
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Not the IRS, it's not a tax credit. The money was given as grants to state energy offices and some nonprofits, and they run their own programs, usually for households under a certain income level. Best move is to search "[your state] Solar for All" and see if your state had one and what the income limits are. Heads up though, EPA says it might…
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CleanTechnica: Federal Court Rules Cancellation Of Solar For All Program Was Unlawful. “The court ruled the Trump administration never should have terminated Solar for All because Congress intended it to continue, and EPA broke the law when it killed the program and pocketed the money,” Nick Torrey, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental…
- Sep 20
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Oh my god the US can do sth right on federal level. Again. At least once a few months. Let's up this frequncy. Vote blue for once and afterwards please reform this effed up system on the top. Greeting from Europe, hoping you guys get your act together in time when we possibly face our own reactionaries in power.
- Sep 19
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A district court on Friday ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate the $7 billion Solar for All program: https:// wapo.st/4cSjuC1 via Jake Spring
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" 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. The EPA acted contrary to this intent and without any other statutory authority when it terminated the program, McElroy wrote. She vacated the termination." https://…
- Sep 18
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I mean in Nebraska we have a mandatory independent, so be mindful of your situation.
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From earlier today: The Trump administration unlawfully terminated a $7 billion grant program for solar energy, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled on Friday Story @bloomberg.com here (gift link):
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A district court ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate a $7 billion grant program that funded solar panel installation for low- and moderate-income families.
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VOTE solid blue, no matter who, up and down. Then in 2028, any fake democrats like fetterman get primaried, but now is NOT the time for stupid self-indulgent Democrat purity tests.
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Given we are seeing a massive increase in energy costs - with more coming down the pipeline - it’s insane to shut down solar incentives. Unless you hate the USA why would you do this? Also kudos to the judge for reminding us congress holds the power of the purse.
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Thank god for the courts, the only reason we are not speaking Russian right now.