(The Center Square) – The Environmental Protection Agency awarded $156 million in federal taxpayer dollars toward developing solar power access in the state of Arizona.
The grant is part of “Solar for All” program that the governor’s office said would equip 61 megawatts of solar to Arizonans, according to a news release.
“Solar for All Arizonans is a critical program that will lower energy costs for thousands of Arizonans,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement. “In addition to directly providing Arizona families with clean, affordable electricity, Solar for All Arizonans will open new opportunities for our home grown solar industry, and create good-paying jobs in communities all across the state.”
Specifically, they say it will help with those who are low-income, or in areas where it’s less common to rely on solar power.
“The Governor’s Office of Resiliency is pleased to partner with financing institutions and community-based organizations to provide distributed solar and battery benefits to Arizonans in all parts of the state,” OOR Director Maren Mahoney said in a statement. “Energy access and affordability is critical in Arizona, especially during our long, hot summers. Arizona is a leader in clean energy generation, and this program will open new pathways for families previously unable to tap into the many benefits of our flourishing clean energy economy.”
The Arizona grant is only a small fraction of the $7 billion the EPA doled out for program federally, which was spread across 60 entities nationwide. The money stemmed from the agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which came to be through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, according to a news release.
The agency estimates that it will benefit 900,000 households.
“Sunlight is powering millions of homes across the nation, and we’re working hard to ensure Americans everywhere can benefit from this affordable clean energy resource,” United States Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
Proponents of solar have long-argued it’s a useful form of alternative energy, whereas others have criticized its environmental impact and cost in some cases.
