President Biden celebrates Earth Day with a $7 billion investment

Joe Biden will unveil a week-long program of "historic climate actions" and a $7 billion investment in solar energy projects, focusing on underprivileged neighborhoods, on Earth Day.

On Monday, Joe Biden will observe Earth Day by revealing a week-long program of what the White House describes as “historic climate actions,” as well as a $7 billion investment in solar energy projects across the country with an emphasis on underprivileged neighborhoods. The president is on his way to Prince William Forest Park in Virginia to give a speech in which he will highlight his accomplishments in the environmental arena, particularly his efforts to combat climate change and provide more affordable and accessible sustainable energy.

The main event of the day is the release of $7 billion in grants for the Environmental Protection Agency’s “solar for all” program. This program is made possible by the $369 billion bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act from the previous year, which is said to assist over 900,000 households, according to the Biden administration. According to government officials, the funds will be disbursed through “states, territories, tribes, municipalities, and non-profits across the country,” with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The administration plans to fund solar projects to support Biden’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to provide 40% of federal climate clean energy and affordable housing benefits to communities marginalized by underinvestment and pollution. Additionally, Biden plans to launch a website to encourage people to join the American Climate Corps, a voluntary government program based on the Civilian Conservation Corps.