California Spending $49 Million in Taxpayer Funds to Give FREE Solar Panels and Refrigerators to Illegal Aliens California has allocated $49 million from its cap-and-trade fund to provide free solar panels and energy upgrades to illegal alien farmworkers. This program, which does not require legal citizenship status, has been criticized for its cost and for neglecting legal residents, seniors, and veterans facing high energy bills. The initiative, funded by taxes on carbon producers, has provided upgrades to approximately 2,000 families at a cost of $23,000 per household.

• California’s cap-and-trade fund has spent $49 million on energy upgrades for illegal alien farmworkers.
• The program, LIWP Farmworker, explicitly allows non-citizens to participate and accepts foreign government identification.
• Legal residents, seniors, and veterans are reportedly facing high energy bills and waitlists for assistance.
• The program is funded through California’s cap-and-trade scheme, which increases gas prices.
• The cost per household for upgrades, including solar panels and refrigerators, is approximately $23,000.
• La Cooperativa Campesina de California and MAROMA Energy Services are involved in administering and implementing the program.
• Outreach efforts have targeted farmworker communities and included Spanish-language radio spots.
• Approximately half to three-quarters of California’s 900,000 farmworkers are estimated to be in the country illegally.