DLNews Energy:

Solar Hope on Hold: What the Fight Over “Solar for All” Means for the Coachella Valley

The promise of cheaper energy and clean power for working families is now caught in a national tug-of-war. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of states suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after it abruptly ended the $7 billion Solar for All Program—a federal initiative meant to deliver solar power to low-income and disadvantaged communities. The decision threatens hundreds of millions of dollars in grants that California was counting on to expand community solar and storage projects, including potential benefits for residents across the Coachella Valley.

The Solar for All Program was designed to help families who cannot install rooftop solar panels—renters, apartment dwellers, and homeowners with unsuitable roofs—by building shared solar systems that would lower electric bills and reduce pollution. California had secured roughly $250 million to bring those projects to life, including funds for workforce training and new clean-energy jobs. For the Coachella Valley, this could have meant tangible relief for families struggling with record-high utility costs and a pathway to more local jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Instead, that vision is now uncertain. The EPA’s announcement that it no longer has legal authority to manage the program has effectively halted funding nationwide. California officials argue the termination is unlawful, saying Congress already approved the funds and that contracts were in place. If the lawsuits fail, it could stall progress toward the state’s clean-energy goals and delay much-needed solar access for underserved regions like the desert.

For valley residents, the impact is real. Communities from Desert Hot Springs to Indio were poised to benefit from community solar projects offering up to 20 percent savings on electricity bills. The loss of federal backing could also slow the creation of local training programs that would prepare residents for high-quality jobs in the solar and storage industries. While California vows to continue investing in clean energy, the fight over Solar for All will decide whether that future arrives sooner—or slips further out of reach.