President Joe Biden celebrated Earth Day by announcing a $7 billion initiative for residential solar projects aimed at powering nearly a million low-income households. The announcement, made during a speech at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia, kicks off a week of activities highlighting the administration's climate change efforts.
“Solar for All will give us more breathing room and cleaner breathing room,” Biden said, emphasizing the importance of the initiative in alleviating the financial burden faced by low-income families in meeting energy costs.
The initiative, included in Biden's landmark climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act, will be distributed through the Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All grant competition. The program is projected to create 200,000 jobs and save households approximately $400 annually on energy bills.
Biden also revealed the launch of the American Climate Corps, a program aimed at preparing young people for careers in climate-related industries. The initiative will offer over 2,000 positions across 36 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with the first class set to commence in June.
“I will put tens of thousands of young people to work at the forefront of our climate resilience and clean energy future,” Biden stated, highlighting the program's role in training participants in various climate resilience and clean energy initiatives.
While Biden's Earth Day event focused on climate action, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also held a virtual campaign event addressing environmental issues. Kennedy's event comes amidst criticism from environmental organizations, underscoring the ongoing debate surrounding climate policy in the political landscape.
