Court reinstates $7B ‘Solar for All’ program axed by Trump

A federal court in Rhode Island has thwarted the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to terminate a multibillion-dollar clean energy initiative aimed at expanding rooftop solar in disadvantaged communities. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy—who was appointed by former President Donald Trump—vacated the EPA action that sought both to end the Solar For All program and to claw back its funding. The program, which carries roughly $7 billion in federal resources, is intended to support deployment of rooftop solar systems for low-income and other underserved populations. The court’s decision halts the EPA’s move to rescind those funds, preserving the program’s financial footing while litigation proceeds. By vacating the agency’s termination and recovery action, the ruling prevents the immediate withdrawal of program dollars and allows Solar For All to continue under existing funding arrangements. The order represents a judicial check on the agency’s effort to unwind the program and will influence how the EPA proceeds on implementation and any future administrative changes. The case underscores the judicial role in disputes over federal program rollbacks and the balance between agency discretion and statutory or regulatory constraints. The court’s decision now sets the stage for further legal proceedings to determine the long-term fate of the Solar For All program and its funding.