Missouri receives $156 million solar investment from EPA | State News
As the White House celebrated Earth Day on Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $156 million award to the Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority (EIERA).
The award, which is distributed through the Solar for All grant competition, aims to provide long-lasting solar programs that will aid low-income communities and reduce pollution statewide.
“If your utility bill is around $150 a month, you’ll still have the monthly usage cost of around $25, but you’re looking at saving $125 a month,” Ryan Roe, owner of Green Leaf Solar, said.
More than 18,000 households in Missouri will benefit from the Solar for All program, which could create thousands of long-term solar industry jobs.
Missouri EIERA will use a combination of forgivable loans for solar adoption without the long-term repayment options.
“It’s a great way to save a little money for low-income families,” Roe said. “And also lower their carbon footprint.”
The Missouri EIERA was among 49 other state-level awards announced by the EPA, along with $500 million distributed to six tribes and five multistate awards worth approximately $1 billion, the release said.
Overall, the EPA estimates the investment will enable over 900,000 low-income households and disadvantaged communities across the United States and will reduce 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions over five years.
The award is a part of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund created under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
