Two federal judges have now ruled against the EPA's decision to end Solar for All, a program intended to bring lower-cost solar power to families who might otherwise be priced out. On September 22, Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., set aside the EPA's decision to eliminate the program. She found that the agency had wrongly treated a 2025 federal law as requiring or allowing it to end grants that had already been awarded. Her ruling addresses the decision affecting the program as a whole; it does not, by itself, restart individual grants or open enrollment. A federal judge in Rhode Island reached a similar conclusion on September 18. That's two rulings in four days, with appeals and next steps still possible.
What this has to do with your roof in Colorado
In 2024, the Colorado Energy Office was selected for about $156 million in Solar for All funding. Colorado's plan included rooftop solar for eligible households, along with community and multifamily solar projects across the state. The planned benefits are significant, but the state has not announced that applications or installations are restarting.
The EPA ended Solar for All in August 2025, putting Colorado's plans on hold. The court rulings remove a major legal basis for that program-wide cancellation. Whether and when Colorado can use its award again depends on what happens next in court and at the agencies.
Don't count it as done yet
We're going to be straight with you: a favorable ruling is not an open application or a promise of a free system. An appeal is possible, and Colorado has not announced a restart date. We'll watch for an update from the Colorado Energy Office.
What to do right now
- Be wary of anyone promising you a Solar for All spot today. Confirm any application, eligibility rules, and costs through the Colorado Energy Office before sharing personal information or paying anyone.
- Follow the state's updates. Check the Colorado Energy Office's Colorado Solar for All page (energyoffice.colorado.gov/cos4a) for its newsletter and any official enrollment announcement.
- Ask your utility about programs available now. If Xcel Energy serves your home, check its Solar*Rewards options and current income qualifications directly. Incentives and availability depend on the program and the project.
If Colorado's program restarts, we hope it brings more families the savings and choices solar can offer. Mile High Solar Care helps homeowners look after existing systems with cleaning, inspections, and diagnostics when those services are needed. We'll share practical updates as the state releases them.
Solar should be within reach of more Colorado families. This week's rulings are a meaningful step, and we'll keep watching what happens next.
— Jeremy & Meral