INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has pulled $7 billion of grant money that was supposed to go to solar projects around the country.

Advocates said it’s a big blow to lower-income households, including ones in Indiana. The EPA’s Biden-era program Solar for All was approved in 2024.

Green energy advocates said Indiana lost $117 million to fund solar programs. Zach Schalk, Indiana program director for Solar United Neighbors, called it “a huge gut punch.”

He added, “It was devastating for organizations like Solar United Neighbors, but also for all the thousands of Hoosiers households that were going to benefit from affordable local clean energy in the state.”

The program was meant to give low-income and disadvantaged communities a chance to tap into Solar Energy by providing solar panels and other equipment, or linking communities to nearby solar sites. Advocates said the program would have helped 70,000 Indiana homes save 20% in electric bills, and lead to job opportunities in the state.

Lee Zeldin, EPA administrator, spoke about the cancellation of government funds. “Recipients are still very much in the early planning phase, not the building and construction process. But the bottom line again is this: EPA no longer has the authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive.”

Zeldin said the money cut will help save taxpayers.

Alison Becker of Solar Opportunities Indiana received a termination letter from the EPA. The letter said the program has 120 calendar days to decide what they want to do. Becker said they can either appeal EPA’s decision in court, call off the program, or keep parts of it running through fundraising efforts.

Becker said the solar organizations are resilient. “The organizations who are on the coalition are so committed to environmental justice and so committed to providing solar opportunities that we’ll continue to look for grants if this grant is effectively terminated.”

Zach Schalk personally funded 24 solar panels for his two-story home. He said his electric bills on average are $8 a month. While the average cost of solar equipment can be expensive, he said, the program helps bridge that gap so others can afford it. “Folks around the state are already having a hard time affording rising energy bills they’re having to make hard decisions. Are we going to pay to keep the lights on or pay for medicine or put food on the table?”

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