The city of Gary is one of four Hoosier cities to benefit from a $117.5 million federal grant to provide solar energy to low-income households.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Solar for All program this week financed through the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, established under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
Democrats have hailed the project as a way to combat the climate crisis, lower energy costs for families and create good-paying jobs.
The grant recipient, the Indiana Community Action Association, is a coalition including, Gary, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and Columbus, combined with six statewide organizations. The group was one of 60 recipients.
The coalition award is part of $5.5 billion in funding to each state by the EPA, along with six Native American tribes totaling more than $500 million and five multi-state awards totaling about $1 billion, according to the EPA release.
Along with the four cities, Solar for All Indiana coalition members include the Indiana Community Action Association, Energy Matters, Black Sun Light Sustainability in partnership with Indiana State Conference of the NAACP, the Indiana Energy Independence Fund, Faith in Place, Solar United Neighbors of Indiana, and Earth Charter Indiana.
In a release, an official with Indiana Solar United Neighbors said the grant money expands “equitable access” to solar energy to all Hoosiers and will allow families to save money and control where their energy comes from.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
