Colorado Joins 23 States in Solar Grant Lawsuit
At least 23 states, including Colorado, have filed suit against the Trump administration after it canceled $7 billion in nationwide solar grants meant to expand renewable energy access for low-income families.
The funding, part of the “Solar for All” program, was designed to bring affordable clean energy to underserved communities. Colorado’s share of the federal initiative totaled $150 million, originally awarded through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 under the Biden administration.
However, only months after taking office, President Trump halted the program, withdrawing the environmental grants that would have supported solar expansion across multiple states.
Colorado’s Attorney General Pushes Back
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined the multi-state legal effort, arguing that Congressional appropriations cannot be reversed for political reasons.
“EPA awards can only be rescinded for fraud or waste,” Weiser stated, “not because of a shift in political ideology.”
Weiser said the state’s $156 million allocation would have created over 1,000 clean-energy jobs and delivered solar access to more than 20,000 low-income households.
Economic and Environmental Stakes
Supporters of the lawsuit claim the loss of federal funding will hit rural and low-income regions hardest, including many in Oklahoma that could have benefited from regional clean-energy expansion.
Energy experts say Oklahoma’s vast sun exposure makes it a prime location for solar growth, particularly as utilities explore hybrid systems that balance fossil fuels with renewables. The halted funding, they argue, undermines national efforts to diversify the grid and reduce energy costs for families in need.
While the court battle unfolds, state and local energy offices are already exploring alternative partnerships to sustain progress on community-solar initiatives.
Legal Outcome Could Shape U.S. Energy Policy
If successful, the lawsuit could set a precedent for how future administrations manage EPA-directed clean-energy funds. It may also determine whether political transitions can override Congressionally approved climate investments.
For now, states like Colorado—and possibly Oklahoma—are watching closely as the case moves through federal court.
