More than $62M heading to Hawai‘i to deliver solar power to homes

Today, on Earth Day, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Hawai‘i Green Infrastructure Authority is receiving $62.45 million in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to deliver solar power to low-income households across the state.

The authority is a part of the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and will help finance residential rooftop solar projects as well as storage and community-owned solar systems.

“The new Solar for All grant funding will help low-income households across Hawai‘i take advantage of solar power and save money on energy bills – all while cutting pollution and creating good-paying, union jobs statewide,” said Schatz.

In addition, the Biden administration also announced the launch of a new website for the American Climate Corps, a national program aimed at training young people for clean energy and climate resilience jobs. The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i and Kupu are among the organizations across the country that people can apply.

Schatz said these companies are empowering local people to “become a part of the fight to save our planet.”

The Biden administration also unveiled a slate of new actions and rules including the adoption of categorical exclusions for geothermal energy, actions to protect Alaska Native lands and wildlife, a strategy for the balanced management of public lands, and rules to strengthen accountability for oil and gas operations and promote responsible solar and wind energy development on public lands.