US EPA Awards $156 Million Solar for All Grant to Industrial Heartland Solar Expansion Initiative
(Columbus, OH) – The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $7 billion in grant awards through the Solar for All program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Industrial Heartland Solar Coalition (IHSC), representing 8 states, 31 counties, and 18 cities, was awarded $156 million that will drive solar expansion in the region, creating good-paying jobs, saving families on energy costs, reducing emissions, and addressing climate change.
The Solar for All award brings significant funding to Ohio, providing an incredible opportunity for the state to further reduce carbon emissions by expanding access to residential solar. Ohio's residential solar sector grew significantly in 2023, with a 31.9% increase in interconnections from 2022. The IHSC would present the opportunity to further expand on that total by more than 50%.
The Industrial Heartland Solar Coalition is an ambitious initiative led by Growth Opportunity Partners (Growth Opps.), the first green bank in the State of Ohio and the country’s first African American-led green bank. Providing additional leadership to the coalition are Power a Clean Future Ohio (PCFO), the Citizens Utility Board of Ohio (CUB), Solar United Neighbors (SUN), and Elevate. The George Gund Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation also provided critical support in developing the application.
Communities represented in the IHSC’s proposed grant fall under the Justice40 designation - indicating disproportionate impacts from environmental challenges. Through Solar for All, the IHSC aims to tackle historical environmental injustices and significantly improve public health outcomes across the region.
Growth Opps. CEO Michael Jeans said of the award, "This grant will empower us to bring the benefits of the renewable energy transition to communities that have long awaited such advancements. The combined strength and experience of our coalition in community development, workforce expansion, and renewable energy will be instrumental in creating a more equitable, sustainable future for all."
“Power a Clean Future Ohio is proud to have facilitated the coordination of the IHSC throughout this process,” said Power a Clean Future Ohio Program Manager, Alyssa Johnson. “This application's success owes much to the collaboration of numerous local organizations and governments across the 8 state region. This funding will help us lower energy bills for those that need it most, reduce emissions, spur economic growth, and catalyze job creation. PCFO looks forward to continuing to support local governments’ efforts in reducing their carbon emissions through renewable energy adoption.”
The Initiative has garnered substantial support from various philanthropic entities throughout the geographic coverage, including community and private family foundations. The involvement of these charitable institutions underscores the importance of equitable access to clean energy and demonstrates their commitment to driving positive change in communities facing environmental injustices.
John Mitterholzer, Director of Climate and Environmental Justice at The George Gund Foundation, remarked, “The George Gund Foundation is thrilled to see our early support to establish Growth Opps’ GO Green Energy Fund as the first African American-led Green Bank in the nation culminate in today’s historic announcement from the EPA. This is a win for climate justice and an equitable energy transition.”
"Together, we are bringing over $156 Million to the Midwest to lower bills through community-based solar,” said Dan Gray, Citizens Utility Board of Ohio’s Director of Local Strategies. “This historic investment, led by the White House and administered by the US EPA, will ensure that the clean energy transition will benefit communities across Ohio and beyond. Together we will now be able to deliver pro-consumer, pro-worker solar for all to tens of thousands of ratepayers across the Midwest.”
In addition to the IHSC’s successful application, the State of Ohio received its own award of $156 million for a statewide initiative through the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority.