Lee Ziesche, lee.ziesche@sierraclub.org
Jefferson City, MO – Today, on Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Missouri has been awarded $156,121,000 in funding through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s Solar For All program. The competition, created by President Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), seeks to enable low-income and disadvantaged households across America to access the benefits of low-cost, clean solar energy—benefits that include home energy savings, energy resilience, improved air quality, wealth building, and quality jobs. The Industrial Heartland Solar Coalition also received $156,121,000 in funding for community solar in eight Midwestern states, including Missouri.
“This is yet another instance of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act delivering for regular people and communities by investing in a clean energy future that will help families save money on their utility bills,” said Gretchen Waddell Barwick, Director of the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter. “The program’s success hinges on the willingness of Ameren and Evergy to cooperate with the state to maximize the positive impact this could have for thousands of families.”
Missouri’s is one of 60 applications awarded for the competitive funding through the program; a combined effort of cities across the state and supported heavily by Sierra Club and community allies. The Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority, which will administer the program, describes it as an opportunity to “provide a combination of forgivable loans to enable solar adoption without the long-term repayment obligations associated with traditional loans; low-interest loans through a revolving loan fund that will continue to increase the state’s solar capacity and impact in disadvantaged communities long after the program period ends; and the mobilization of financing and private capital into solar projects, facilitating market transformation for clean technologies.” A complete list of recipients of Solar For All awards can be found here and the Missouri application here.
Kansas City, MO committed to eliminating emissions citywide through the KC Climate Protection & Resiliency Plan, and the City has begun working on its promise to the community by delivering low or no-cost solar to residents through the Solarize KC program.
“With Solar for All funding, Kansas City leaders can start to keep up with demand by solarizing over 2,000 homes annually in the next few years, and these funds will support the expansion of clean, renewable energy in cities across the state,” said Billy Davies, Kansas City-based Senior Field Organizer for the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter.
The IRA authorized $7 billion in funding for the program, but by last year’s deadline for applications, the EPA had received requests totaling more than $38 billion, reflecting the robust community demand for renewable energy and climate action by state and city leaders.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.