Just how does one mark Earth Day if you’re President of the United States?
If you’re President Joe Biden, you do it by by announcing $7 billion in federal grants. These grants will be used for residential solar projects that go to more than 900,000 households in low- and middle-income communities, according to an Associated Press.
The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the grants Monday to 60 recipients.
“The projects are expected to eventually reduce emissions by the equivalent of 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and save households $350 million annually, according to senior administration officials,” per the outlet.
Biden is believed to be using announcements such as this one as a way to woo younger voters in the 2024 presidential election.
“Young people were a key part of a broad but potentially fragile coalition that helped him defeat then-President Donald Trump in 2020,” the AP reported. “Some have joined protests around the country of the administration’s handling of Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”
In recent years, solar energy has taken off as a renewable energy source that supersedes the use of fossil fuels and its effect on the environment.
“Not only is it clean, but solar energy can also boost the reliability of the electric grid,” per the AP.
“Broad community-based solar is our brightest hope for protecting people and our climate from the scourge of fossil fuels,” said Jean Su, director of the Energy Justice program at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These targeted investments mean low-income families get clean energy that is affordable, resilient and protects our ecosystems. It’s great to see President Biden jumpstart this landmark program.”
