Biden Unveils Solar Grants, Launches American Climate Corps
President Joe Biden marked Earth Day with significant initiatives aimed at advancing clean energy and climate resilience. Speaking in Triangle, Virginia, Biden announced $7 billion in grant funding for solar energy under the Inflation Reduction Act and took further steps to establish the American Climate Corps, a program that has garnered strong support from youth climate advocates.
These announcements followed recent actions by the administration, such as restricting oil drilling on nearly half of the national petroleum reserve in Alaska. Against a backdrop of lush greenery, Biden highlighted his administration’s climate initiatives, emphasizing the urgency of addressing what he called an “existential threat.” Reflecting on the impacts of wildfires, extreme weather, and deadly heat across the U.S., he reiterated his commitment to moving forward despite opposition. “We must take decisive action,” Biden said, “and I’m absolutely determined that we do.”
The $7 billion in funding is part of the EPA’s Solar for All program, which aims to expand solar power access to low-income and disadvantaged communities. According to EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, the funds will be distributed to states, territories, tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits, enabling nearly one million households to switch to solar energy. This move is projected to save over $350 million annually on electricity bills and $8 billion over the program’s lifetime, easing the financial burden on these communities.
Biden also focused on the American Climate Corps, a federal workforce initiative designed to train young people for careers in clean energy and climate resilience. The administration plans to streamline the transition for Climate Corps graduates into other federal jobs, ensuring a smoother career path. “Service programs like the Climate Corps bring out the best in young people,” Biden said. “You’ll be paid to tackle climate change—learning skills like installing solar panels, fighting wildfires, and weatherizing homes.”
A new partnership between the administration and TradesFutures, the nonprofit arm of North America’s Building Trades Unions, will allow Climate Corps members to access apprenticeship programs, expanding their skills and job prospects. Biden also celebrated announcements from Vermont, New Mexico, and Illinois, which are launching their own state-based climate corps programs. These initiatives will focus on conservation projects and the development of renewable energy infrastructure, including wind and solar.
The event in Prince William Forest Park—originally developed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps—featured speeches from Biden and other progressive lawmakers, such as Senators Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi drew parallels to Roosevelt’s era, stating, “President Biden sees the current climate crisis as both a challenge and an opportunity for us to come together, just as America did during the Great Depression, to build a sustainable future.”
Biden’s address underscored the administration’s efforts to combat climate change, create new jobs in the clean energy sector, and build a sustainable, resilient future for the nation.
