Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) would be able to receive newly created government funding to install solar energy and energy storage systems under a bipartisan bill recently cosponsored by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).
The Community Health Access Through Resilient Grid Energy (CHARGE) Act of 2025, H.R. 6281, which Rep. Valadao introduced on Nov. 21 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), would direct the U.S. Secretary of Energy to establish a $50-million yearly grant program to facilitate the use of solar energy systems and energy storage technologies at FQHCs.
“Federally qualified health centers are a lifeline for families across the Central Valley and we need to make sure they can stay open — even when emergencies happen,” Rep. Valadao said. “The CHARGE Act creates a new grant program to help FQHCs install reliable energy storage systems so they can keep serving patients without interruption.”
Specifically, H.R. 6281 would authorize $50 million per year to fund installation projects and technical assistance programs nationwide, allow broad participation by state and local governments, nonprofits, and a provider consortium or network that is majority owned or majority controlled by one or more FQHCs, and support technical assistance to ensure that FQHCs can design, install, and operate these systems effectively and sustainably, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“Community health centers are the backbone of care in underserved communities. Too many face dangerous gaps in power reliability during extreme weather or emergency situations,” said Rep. Smith. “The CHARGE Act is a smart and forward-looking investment that will help centers stay open, protect patients, and strengthen energy resilience across the country.”
The Central Valley Health Network, the Solar Energy Industry Association, the National Association of Community Health Centers, Healthpoint, and the Washington Association for Community Health endorsed the measure.