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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Mississippi economy to benefit from $7 billion solar initiative

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Wednesday, August 21, 2024   

Mississippi is among 49 states to receive funding from the $7 billion Solar for All program.

Part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the program aims to expand solar power access to more than 900,000 low-income households nationwide.

Kerry O'Neill, CEO of Inclusive Prosperity Capital, said in Mississippi, the Community Power Coalition is working with her organization. They are bringing together a diverse group of experts in solar development, finance, workforce training and community engagement.

"We also have partners like BOSS -- Black Owners of Solar Services -- on the training and capacity-building side, who will be reaching out to developers all across the country to get them into training," O'Neill explained. "They could get trained on these models and then deliver these models in their own community. "

O'Neill added the Solar for All program is expected to generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs nationwide in the next five years. The grant recipients are required to implement comprehensive workforce development initiatives to support this expansion.

O'Neill noted her organization is working with developers to modify solar programs across states to see if they can replicate them in Mississippi. They will then share the models with local groups and implement them nationwide.

"We see a great opportunity to unlock USDA dollars to put them to work," O'Neill pointed out. "I can imagine Mississippi, that would be like a great model there. Many of these states are very challenging from a regulatory perspective, and energy costs are really low. So, if we're having success in one state that has that profile, how can we adapt that?"

She added other partners include GRID Alternatives, the People's Solar Energy Fund, and Community Housing Capital. Each has its own network working across the country with affordable housing developers to implement community-owned solar in different disadvantaged areas.


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