ATL Standard

Atlanta Among Three Cities in Georgia to Benefit from EPA Grant from Biden-Harris Administration

Apr 22, 2024

Atlanta—On Earth Day, nonprofit CDFICapital Good Fund was announced as a recipient of part of a $7 billion grant funded by the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act. The pool of funding from the EPA will reduce energy costs and lower pollution in low-income communities through rooftop solar. Capital Good Fund will receive $156 million as the lead applicant for the Georgia BRIGHT Communities initiative, which consists of their coalition cities of Atlanta, Savannah, and Decatur, as well as nonprofits, community leaders, other local governments, and small businesses statewide.

"Underserved communities often shoulder the highest energy burdens, adding more financial strain and forcing families to decide between keeping the lights on or paying for some other basic need," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “Thank you to the EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration for their focus on environmental justice. These grant funds will help Atlanta families lower those costs, helping to improve their physical and financial health and overall quality of life.”

“Solar for All is bringing transformative funding to Atlanta,” remarked Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Atlanta. “Not only will this funding allow us to scale the Georgia BRIGHT Communities initiative, but we will leverage our award to support WeatheRISE ATL, our energy burden reduction program. Together, these efforts will merge climate resilience and environmental justice by delivering healthy, energy-efficient homes powered by renewable energy that saves households money.”

“This funding will allow us and our partners to dramatically expand the impact of our existing Georgia BRIGHT program and bring the benefits of solar to approximately 20,000 households over five years while creating good-paying jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving local air quality,” expressed Andy Posner, Founder and CEO of Capital Good Fund. “We are grateful to the Biden Administration for their commitment to environmental justice and recognition that tackling the climate crisis is an opportunity to reshape our nation for the better.”

Georgia BRIGHT offers residential and commercial rooftop solar and solar plus battery storage leases and power purchase agreements to mission-aligned organizations and homeowners, making less than $100,000 a year across the state. The Solar for All grant will significantly scale up the BRIGHT initiative while also broadening it to include workforce development, community solar projects, enabling repairs (such as needed roof replacements), and more.