A coalition of nearly two dozen states has launched dual legal challenges against the Trump administration’s termination of the $7 billion Solar for All program, marking the latest significant legal confrontation between state attorneys general and federal environmental policy. The program, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, was designed to expand solar energy access in low-income communities across the United States.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the coordinated legal action on Thursday, revealing that states are pursuing both monetary damages and program reinstatement through separate filings in federal courts. “The Trump administration is trying to hold us in the past, tethered to fossil fuel companies,” Bonta stated during an online briefing. “In doing so, Trump is making America more expensive and more polluted.” The legal challenge represents one of dozens filed by Democratic attorneys general against administration policies, demonstrating the ongoing tension between state and federal governance approaches to energy and environmental matters.
Program Impact and Immediate Consequences
The Solar for All program’s cancellation carries substantial financial implications for participating states and vulnerable households. California stands to lose approximately $250 million in congressionally obligated funds, while Arizona faces the loss of $156 million that would have supported approximately 11,000 low-income households. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes warned that affected households could see energy bills increase by 20% following the program’s termination.
“Without this program, for many Arizonans, clean energy will be out of reach,” Mayes emphasized during the joint announcement. The nationwide impact extends to an estimated 900,000 low-income households that would have benefited from reduced energy costs through solar installation and access programs.
Legal Strategy and Filing Details
The states are pursuing a two-pronged legal approach to address the program’s cancellation. The first complaint, filed Wednesday in the Court of Federal Claims, seeks monetary damages for funds already allocated and obligated to states. A second lawsuit expected to be filed in Washington federal court will specifically request reinstatement of the Solar for All program.
This legal strategy mirrors approaches taken in other environmental and policy disputes, where states have simultaneously sought both immediate financial relief and long-term program restoration. The coordinated effort reflects increasingly sophisticated legal and technological coordination among state governments when challenging federal policy changes.
Specific Community Impacts
The program’s termination particularly affects disadvantaged communities that lack alternative energy access options. Mayes highlighted the Hopi tribe in northern Arizona as a specific example, noting that the community was slated to receive a $25 million award to bring electricity to hundreds of homes for the first time using solar panels and battery storage systems.
These installations would have provided not only immediate energy access but also long-term cost savings for communities where energy burden disproportionately affects household budgets. The cancellation represents what advocates describe as a setback for energy justice initiatives aimed at addressing historical inequities in clean energy access.
Administration Justification and Legislative Context
The Trump administration terminated the program in August, with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin characterizing the initiative as a “boondoggle.” The funding elimination occurred through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Trump in July, which removed the program’s funding source.
The administration has consistently rolled back federal support for solar and wind energy, citing concerns about cost and reliability of renewable resources. This approach reflects broader administration priorities that have emphasized traditional energy sectors while questioning renewable energy economics.
Broader Political Context
The lawsuit joins numerous other legal challenges filed by the country’s 23 Democratic attorneys general against Trump administration policies spanning environmental regulation, immigration enforcement, and deployment of National Guard troops. With Democrats in the minority in both congressional chambers and many Democratic governors cautious about directly confronting the administration, attorneys general have emerged as primary challengers to federal policy changes.
The legal action follows similar challenges by solar companies and labor unions, who filed suit to restore the program just ten days earlier. This multi-front opposition suggests growing coordination between public and private sector entities in defending renewable energy initiatives against federal policy shifts.
Participating States and Jurisdictions
The coalition includes a geographically diverse group of states demonstrating widespread concern about the program’s cancellation. In addition to California and Arizona, participating jurisdictions include Maryland, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
The EPA has declined to comment on the pending litigation, maintaining the agency’s standard practice regarding active legal proceedings. The cases are expected to proceed through federal courts in the coming months, with potential implications for both the specific program and broader administration of environmental justice initiatives.
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