Senator says Trump’s EPA will cut $100M Solar Funding for Illinois

[February 08, 2025]  By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said on social media that President Donald Trump’s administration cutting off funding to the Solar for All program would lock Illinois out of more than $100 million for solar energy projects.

State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, said his “fingers are crossed” that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's pause will halt Illinois solar projects.

"The first thing that we need to clarify is there is no climate crisis, period. CEJA [Climate and Equitable Jobs Act] and all the related legislation to the green bad deal is a complete scam and a complete hoax. Ultimately, all this is: is an attack on the middle class, people on fixed incomes, and everyday Americans that are struggling to pay their bills because the cost of energy fuels inflation,” said Miller.

The Illinois Power Agency’s [IPA] two incentive programs, Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All, do not depend on federal funding, according to the Illinois Power Agency. Miller said solar projects help China conquer the world.

“We've [the legislature] been doing some analysis on what it would take with solar panels to replace the coal generation, and we're talking about 670 square miles of solar panels, which is expensive and unreliable … and coal is a cheap and reliable source of energy,” said Miller. “That's almost 500,000 acres of productive farm ground, the most productive farm ground in the world that they're going to cover with solar panels.

The IPA does not have “direct knowledge” of any solar projects participating in their programs that have been denied funding due to the EPA’s funding pause.

Miller said a lot of these people who sign up for panel installation through the Solar For All program are selling their souls for the sake of putting a few more bucks in their pocket.

"They're selling their soul to the Chinese communists. I farm for a living, so I know what the ability is to generate dollars off of corn, soybeans, wheat, etc. In Sangamon County, they're up to someplace north of $4,000 an acre, with a 3% COLA [ Cost-of-Living Adjustment], with tax abatements, with real estate tax relief, etc.,” said Miller.

The IPA does not yet know how the pause on EPA clean energy funding will affect Illinois, but the agency continues to monitor the situation. Miller said he believes Illinoisians should have the right to do what they want to with their private property, but explained he’s against taxpayers subsidizing the solar panel industry.

"Before the green energy scam, you know, we had cheap, affordable, reliable energy and the American citizens were doing a lot better,” said Miller.

Durbin said on social media that the Trump Administration’s “unconstitutional” funding freeze continues to deny states billions of dollars in obligated funds.

The Solar for All program recipients, state and local government agencies and a few nonprofits, have signed contracts with EPA amounting to $7 billion. The federal program is part of the Inflation Reduction Act.