Mike Mullett struggles to peer through sheets of drizzly rain while navigating the working-class areas of Columbus, a charming town located in southern Indiana.
He is on a mission to locate the senior center, multi-family residences, and rent-subsidized housing – totaling over 530 properties – which he and numerous local residents hope will qualify for $4.42 million in federal funding aimed at solar energy initiatives.
However, that funding is now in jeopardy.
On January 20, Donald Trump put a hold on billions of dollars in federal grant funding for clean energy and various projects across the nation that were launched under the Biden administration’s Green New Deal.
“Since April 2023, we’ve been diligently crafting a plan to provide solar energy for hundreds of families in two low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in Columbus,” Mullett states. The project was anticipated to launch in April, with the previously approved funding expected to be accessible by February 14.
“Unless the Trump administration completely reverses its stance on funding, that expectation will clearly not be fulfilled.”
This funding is part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s $7 billion Solar for All program, designed to help low-income families save on their electricity bills. Approximately $117 million was allocated for solar projects and initiatives in Indiana.
Communities throughout Indiana, which is solidly Republican, were set to gain more than others from the Biden administration’s ambitious clean energy agenda, which was essentially an unsuccessful attempt to regain support from Rust Belt states whose voters have distanced themselves from Democratic leaders in recent years.
By August 2024, Indiana had drawn in $7.8 billion in private investment for various clean energy projects, including solar and battery production, partly due to the prospect of federal grants and local tax incentives.
Trump has faithfully acted on his campaign promise to roll back clean energy initiatives, labeling Biden’s efforts as the “Green New Scam”.
Notable Republicans have supported his actions, despite potential economic risks to states where Trump enjoys popularity.
“The executive branch has the authority to assess how its various agencies are operating,” stated Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on February 5.
On February 10, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to lift its funding freeze.
Indiana is not the only state pursuing solar energy.
Solar initiatives ranging from large-scale utilities to individual housing projects have gained significant traction in Republican-dominated states. Texas boasts the second-highest number of installed solar power units after California, capable of powering over 4.5 million homes, with Florida trailing closely behind.
A quarter of a trillion dollars – representing 80% of the total funding for green energy manufacturing and related initiatives – was proposed for projects within Republican districts across the United States.
At 3.4% of its overall output, Indiana, where Trump secured a nearly 19-point victory in the recent presidential election, generates a greater proportion of its electricity from solar than predominantly Democratic states such as Illinois, Washington, and New Hampshire, as reported by an industry organization.
“The $130 million awarded for Indiana under the Solar for All program would revolutionize the solar landscape in the state, enabling over 10,000 families in low-income neighborhoods to benefit from reduced electric bills and enhanced resilience provided by local solar,” asserts Zach Schalk, the Indiana program director at Solar United Neighbors Action, a non-profit that has supported $7.1 million in solar projects in the state.
“This is genuinely a non-partisan issue based on public opinion polling across the US. We’ve seen elected officials from both parties in Indiana endorse this program in written support.”
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Nonetheless, some question the critical role of federal funding in fostering solar energy growth at the utility scale, and its overall capacity to meet the enormous electricity demand.
“Several solar [utility] companies I’ve spoken with indicate that [tax rebates and other federal assistance] are beneficial, but the industry has matured considerably to the point where others can achieve a sustainable profit margin without it,” remarks Indiana Republican representative Ed Soliday, who has supported legislation favoring solar initiatives in the state.
“What we’re witnessing is that commercial solar is progressing much more rapidly than rooftop alternatives. You cannot operate a manufacturing facility solely on rooftop solar panels.”
Inquiries directed to the Indiana Republican Party and a state senator representing Columbus regarding the potential risks posed by the funding hold on solar energy projects and business development went unanswered.
In Columbus, Trump’s decision has left Mullett and others disheartened after their substantial efforts to secure funding for solar energy infrastructure that would serve 320 community households, 204 multi-family units, and seven single-family residences.
“Most of us are retirees and volunteers,” he explains. “I estimate that we’ve dedicated a minimum of 20 hours each week; there were weeks when our efforts escalated to between 40 and 60 hours.”
He warns that if federal funding is rescinded, the private investments that were pledged to support the project would vanish as well.
“If the ongoing litigation in federal district courts progresses all the way to the US Supreme Court, the expected delay for the funding rollout could certainly stretch into months, potentially even reaching 2026,” he adds.
A recent study indicates that Indiana residents have experienced the seventh-highest increase in electricity rates nationwide. Nearly 83% of the state’s electricity generation relies on natural gas or coal.
Despite this, Mullett and his fellow community members remain committed to the project, determined not to abandon their efforts as uncertainties surrounding the funding persist.
“Implementing this in a manner that involves low-income households has been a dream of mine for the past 50 years,” he concludes.
