MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — When you consider what Floridians are facing, intensifying storms and increased utility bills, solar energy advocates say their industry is necessary.

“We had about 250 clients that had solar and battery systems go through Hurricanes Ian, Milton, and Helene, and incredibly we really had almost no failures in those systems after those storms,” said Bill Johnson, the owner of Brilliant Harvest LLC and President of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association.

Johnson was at his Sarasota warehouse Friday. Boxes of new solar panels and batteries fill the shelves. 8 On Your Side asked, “Could a low-income family even afford solar panels right now?”

“Today it’s difficult,” said Johnson. “But there are good programs for that. Taking away the tax credits, taking away these grant programs just makes it a little more difficult for these low-income families.”

He’s talking about Solar for All. The program, backed by a coalition of three nonprofits, aimed to help 6,000 low-income families across Florida go solar. It would create more than 500 jobs and produce more than 20% of monthly electric bill savings.

On Thursday night, the Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to the Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF) saying the agency no longer possesses the legal authority or the financial appropriations to implement the program. Solar United Neighbors (SUN) was one of the non-profits that said losing this $156 million in grant funding can have multiple implications.

“Our plan was even higher bill savings. So then people wouldn’t be making the terribly difficult decisions we know families are making today between prescription medication or paying their light bill,” said Heaven Campbell, the Florid Program Director of SUN.

She mentioned the expected rate hikes from Florida Power and Light, and how some cities are looking for their own utilities, saying this program was a missed opportunity.

“Just from 2020, electricity bills have risen, you know, in some cases, 29%; in some utilities, 64%. So it is just becoming more and more unlivable, especially when you look at housing prices as well,” said Campbell.

Johnson said having your own energy can make a difference.

“Solar not only saves on the electric bill but it also provides that resilience,” said Johnson. “Because of the weather and storms and stuff, people need this technology more than ever.”