(Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Monday, on Earth Day, $7 billion in grants for residential solar initiatives, long considered difficult to access for low-income Americans, making it possible to power nearly a million of these homes, according to the White House.
The announcement kicks off a week of activities to promote the Biden administration’s record on climate change.
The $7 billion in funding for solar power through the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Solar for All” grant competition was included in the Inflation Reduction Act. inflation), flagship text of the Biden presidency on climate change.
“Solar for all will allow us to breathe better and cleaner,” said Joe Biden, emphasizing that low-income households can spend up to 30% of their salary on energy bills.
It will create 200,000 jobs and save approximately $400 per year for households participating in the program, according to the White House.
The allocated grants will benefit 60 government entities and NGOs that support the adoption of solar energy in marginalized communities, thereby reducing their energy costs. Among the winners are several organizations that plan to equip Native American homes with solar power in states including Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.
The program is part of Joe Biden’s goal of dedicating 40% of federal investments in clean energy to disadvantaged communities.
The announcement of the program was made during a trip by Joe Biden to Virginia. The American president, campaigning for his re-election, also announced the opening of applications to join the American Climate Corps, a program aimed at preparing young people for jobs in climate-related sectors.
Young voters are a prime target for Democrat Joe Biden as he prepares to take on his Republican predecessor Donald Trump in the November presidential vote.
“I will put tens of thousands of young people to work, at the forefront of our climate resilience and our clean energy future,” Joe Biden said.
(Reporting by Nichola Groom; French version Dimitri Rhodes, editing by Blandine Hénault)
©2024 Thomson Reuters, all rights reserved. Reuters content is the intellectual property of Thomson Reuters or its third party content providers. Any copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. “Reuters” and the Reuters Logo are trademarks of Thomson Reuters and its affiliated companies.