New solar grant funds to help residents in need

Austin Energy and the Texas Solar for All Coalition are celebrating “tens of millions” of federal dollars that will boost access to solar energy for historically disadvantaged communities and medically vulnerable residents. The money, which is part of a $250 million EPA Solar for All grant, will help expand solar, create green jobs and foster community resilience with battery backup systems. The money will also help lower the energy bills by more than 20 percent in some low-income communities. A press release from Austin Energy explains that the funds will help construct local solar “power plants” in low-income neighborhoods, which will then receive incentives and, potentially, energy bill discounts. In addition, homes will have energy backups in the case of grid outages. “We are incredibly excited about how this grant helps the City of Austin reduce pollution, create green jobs and directly benefit our historically disadvantaged communities as we create Austin’s clean energy future,” Richard Génecé, Austin Energy vice president of customer energy solutions, said in a statement to the press. “By focusing on expanding access to solar power, Austin Energy is helping relieve both the burdens of high-energy costs and carbon pollution that these communities disproportionately bear while strengthening our local grid resilience in the face of climate change.”