Brian Depew, executive director, 402.687.2100 ext. 1015 or [email protected]; or Rhea Landholm, communications manager, 402.687.2100 ext. 1025 or [email protected]
LYONS, NEBRASKA – On Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, the Center for Rural Affairs received a formal notice of termination from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its $62.4 million Solar for All grant.
“Solar for All is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Nebraskans to improve energy resilience,” said Brian Depew, the Center’s Executive Director. “In a time of rising electricity prices and a shortage of electricity generation, Solar for All is poised to both add needed local generation capacity and ensure affordability for ratepayers. This action by EPA takes away our access to grant funding and means that we must suspend work on projects, creating great uncertainty for stakeholders from communities to developers to contractors.”
Congress funded Solar for All in 2022 as part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The EPA awarded a Solar for All grant to the Center after a rigorous multi-stage process. Following the award in May of 2024, the Center worked diligently to implement the grant in Nebraska and meet EPA’s requirements. Center staff engaged with dozens of partners to develop a three-part Solar for All program including community solar, multifamily affordable housing solar, and single family rooftop. The program is designed to reach rural, urban, and Tribal communities in Nebraska and provide eligible recipients with utility savings.
As of August 2025, the Center was in advanced discussions with multiple communities and housing developers around the state to deploy more than $20 million in grant funding for solar projects, with additional projects in earlier stages.
“We expect legal action to be taken to restore access to grant funds,” said Depew.
