Spark Alerts: Feb 21, 2025

The latest Distributed Generation news, RFPs and program policy updates at your fingertips

February 21, 2025

Distributed Generation news, RFPs and program policy updates

Note: This is a proof of concept for Spark Alerts, focusing on Illinois community solar, then on New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Please help us improve by sharing your feedback with us!

Illinois Community Solar

📰 Market & Development News

  • Whiteside County will settle solar farm application lawsuit accusing County Board of overriding state law
    Developer: Prataria Solar LLC
    AHJ: Whiteside County
    February 20, 2025: The Whiteside County Board has voted to settle a lawsuit from Prataria Solar LLC, which accused the county of improperly denying its application to build a 5-megawatt solar farm. The court settlement grants the necessary special-use permit for the project, conforming to a recent Illinois law that restricts counties from applying more stringent regulations than state law for solar projects.
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  • Nautilus Solar Acquires Illinois Community Solar Projects from Renewable Properties
    Developer: Nautilus Solar
    AHJ: Kane County
    February 19, 2025: Nautilus Solar Energy has officially acquired nearly 11 megawatts of Illinois community solar projects from Renewable Properties.
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  • Ogle County Board approves solar development southeast of Polo
    Developer: OneEnergy Development LLC
    AHJ: Ogle County
    February 19, 2025: The Ogle County Board has approved the construction of a 2 MWac solar facility by OneEnergy Development LLC southeast of Polo. Although the project received majority support, there were concerns raised by some board members regarding the use of prime farmland for solar development. Additionally, the Board recently increased the application fees for commercial solar projects to help manage an influx of development proposals.
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  • Champaign County Board Environment and Land Use Committee meeting
    Developer: Medanos Solar LLC, IAG Investments LLC
    AHJ: Champaign County
    February 19, 2025: During the Champaign County Board Environment and Land Use Committee meeting on April 6, discussions focused on Medanos Solar LLC’s 5 MW community solar plant, located in a 48.64-acre agricultural parcel. The proposal includes multiple waivers from standard zoning conditions. Additionally, IAG Investments LLC sought a Special Use Permit for a 6 MW project, also requiring several waivers and a decommissioning plan.

📢 Policy & Programs

  • SB1816- RENEWABLE ENERGY PROCUREMENT

    • Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act to allow for post-award renegotiation of contract terms for renewable energy projects supported through competitive procurements.

    • Democrat sponsored.

    • Introduced in Senate 2/6.

    • UPDATE- Assigned to Senate Energy Committee 2/18.

  • HB3265- RES AUTOMATED SOLAR PLATFORM

    • Requires municipalities with populations over 5,000 and all counties to adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform by July 1, 2026.

    • Introduced in House 2/6.

    • UPDATE- read and referred to Rules Committee 2/18.

  • HB3231- UTILITIES- ENERGY CREDITS/CP

    • Among other changes, removes the requirement for the Illinois Power Agency to annually determine the amount of utility-scale renewable energy credits to be included in the self-direct RPS compliance program.

    • Introduced in House 2/6.

    • UPDATE- read and referred to Rules Committee 2/18.

  • HB3322- MUNI CD/CTY CD-SOLAR RIGHTS

    • Prohibits a county or municipality from adopting any ordinance or resolution that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system.

    • Introduced in House 2/6.

    • UPDATE- read and referred to Rules Committee 2/18.

East Coast: MD, NY, PA, VA

📰 Market & Development News

Maryland

  • Eastern Shore farmers organize against proposed solar legislation
    February 19, 2025: Farmers from seven of nine Eastern Shore counties met in Ruthsburg to organize against Senate Bill 0931, which weakens local zoning authority over solar projects. They expressed concern that the proposed legislation would lead to significant damage to Maryland’s agricultural lands and rural communities. County commissioners indicated strong opposition to the bill as well.
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  • Wicomico County solar energy discussions
    AHJ: Wicomico County
    Developer: Salisbury Riverside West Solar, Wicomico Wilber Solar
    February 18, 2025: Public hearings will take place on February 27 for Salisbury Riverside West Solar and Wicomico Wilber Solar, which have filed for special exceptions. The developer on these projects will be updated when more information is made public.

New York

  • Copake solar project draws opposition from legislators
    Developer: Hecate Energy
    AHJ: Columbia County
    February 19, 2025: A proposed 42-megawatt solar farm in Copake, Shepherd's Run Solar Farm, is facing significant opposition from local legislators and state officials. Legislators have voiced concerns about the project's potential environmental impacts and the developer's failure to communicate effectively with the community. Hecate Energy, the company behind the project, has announced a virtual open house to address community concerns and has made modifications to its application.
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  • Public Hearing for Yellow Barn Solar Project
    Developer: Yellow Barn Solar, LLC
    AHJ: Tompkins County
    February 20, 2025: A public comment hearing for Yellow Barn Solar took place in Groton, NY, inviting feedback on the proposed 160-megawatt solar energy facility. Meetingnotes are not yet published.
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  • Phelps says solar project won't pose major adverse environmental impact
    Developer: TCTEC Solar LLC
    AHJ: Village of Phelps
    February 18, 2025: The Phelps Planning Board has approved the Crossroad Community Solar Project, confirming it will not have significant adverse environmental impacts. This facility will generate 3.4 megawatts of solar energy on 15 acres of land.
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  • Ulster County Legislature Meeting Discusses Solar Panel Installations
    AHJ: Kingston, Lloyd, Marlborough, New Paltz, Rosendale, Shandaken, Ulster
    February 18, 2025: During the Ulster County Legislature meeting on February 18, 2025, the legislature approved intermunicipal agreements for solar panel installations at various location sin the County and discussed grant funding for the projects.

Pennsylvania

  • Could ‘Solar For All’ be doomed in Pennsylvania?
    February 21, 2025: Even if federal funding for PA’s Solar For All program is unfrozen, the state will also need approval from the state legislature by May to accept funds. A House bill is currently under review to approve potential federal funds.
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  • East Huntingdon Township to regulate solar energy facilities
    AHJ: East Huntingdon Township
    February 20, 2025: The Township of East Huntingdon in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, held a public meeting to discuss a potential solar ordinance within town bounds. While no ordinance has yet been written, residents in attendance expressed concern about agricultural preservation, decommissioning, and wildlife preservation.
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  • Wysox develops amended ordinance concerning solar energy, power generation
    AHJ: Wysox Township
    February 19, 2025: The Wysox Township is finalizing an updated zoning ordinance for solar energy facilities as conditional uses in the township’s Manufacturing ditrict. A public hearing took place on February 12. If no appeals are lodged within 30 days, the township supervisors plan to enact the amended ordinance at their April 9 meeting.

Virginia

📢 Policy & Programs

Maryland

  • HB0004/SB0120- Restrictions on Use - Solar Collector Systems - Alteration

    • Prohibits any land use restrictions which increase the cost of installing a solar system by at least 5%, or that reduce the efficiency of the system by 10%, over certain thresholds. Also gives community organizations more power to install, or prohibit installation of, solar systems in “common areas or common elements”.

    • Passed House 100-36 on 2/13.

    • UPDATE- Introduced in Senate 2/14, referred to Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Virginia

  • HB2090- Multi-family shared solar program

    • Amends the multi-family shared solar program to include facilities that are within 25 miles of a multi-family utility customer. Also adds requirements that a subscriber's net bill not fall below the minimum bill and requires that the calculation of a subscriber's minimum bill be based on the amount of kilowatt-hours billed by the utility.

    • Introduced 1/7, passed House on a 52-43 vote 1/29.

    • UPDATE- Passed Senate with substitute 21-18 on 2/19. Will move to Governor.

  • HB2438/SB1114- Local regulation of solar facilities

    • Provides that a ground-mounted solar energy generation facility to be located on property zoned agricultural, commercial, industrial, or institutional shall be permitted to be included in a local ordinance, such as specifications for setbacks, fencing, solar panel height, visual impacts, and grading, and a decommissioning plan for solar energy equipment and facilities.

    • Passed House 48-46 on 1/30, referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.

    • UPDATE- failed to pass in Senate Committee 7-1 on 2/17.

  • HB2024- Solar photovoltaic equipment

    • Stops prohibition of use of any material associated with solar facilities that meet EPA standards.

    • UPDATE- Passed Senate with Amendments 2/14. Amendments approved by House. Bill passed.

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