“It helps us a lot, those of us with solar,” Salas says in Spanish, “because you actually save a little money.”

The nonprofit that gave Salas the panels is called GRID Alternatives, and it, along with other awardees, is about to get a big boost from the federal government. Later this summer the Environmental Protection Agency expects to begin distributing $7 billion through its “Solar for All’’ grants. By funding programs that provide rooftop solar panels, batteries to store solar energy, and community solar farms, the EPA expects to help more than 900,000 low-income households reduce pollution that drives climate change, and reduce bills.