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- Spark Alerts: Feb 21, 2025
Spark Alerts: Feb 21, 2025
The latest Distributed Generation news, RFPs and program policy updates at your fingertips
Distributed Generation news, RFPs and program policy updates
Note: This is a proof of concept for Spark Alerts, focusing on Illinois and Texas. Please help us improve by sharing your feedback with us!
📰 Market & Development News
Illinois
All systems go for solar farm near Essex
Developer: Pattern Energy and Repsol Renewables North America
AHJ: Kankakee
February 18, 2025: Pattern Energy and Repsol’s Heritage Prairie Renewable solar farm in Kankakee County is confirmed to be proceeding. Construction initially scheduled for 2024 has now been delayed; site work will commence on interconnection in early 2025, with solar operations expected to start in 2027.
—Will County Board Denies Large-Scale Solar Farm
Developer: AEUG Will Solar, LLC; Acciona Energy USA Global LLC
AHJ: Will County
February 20, 2025: The Will County Land Use and Zoning Board voted 0-5 to deny a special use permit for a large solar project, which spans 3,590 acres. Concerns were raised by landowners about the project in previous public hearings.
—Glacier Moraine solar project planned between Mattoon, Neoga
Developer: Earthrise Energy
AHJ: Mattoon, IL, Neoga, IL
February 19, 2025: The Glacier Moraine solar project, planned by Earthrise Energy, aims to develop a 210-megawatt facility on more than 2,400 acres between Mattoon and Neoga. During a community meeting, Earthrise outlined its plans for this project, including environmental review and decommissioning plans. The project is tentatively scheduled to start construction in summer 2026 with completion expected by late summer 2027.
—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.
—Nautilus Solar Acquires Illinois Community Solar Projects from Renewable Properties
Developer: Nautilus Solar Energy
AHJ: Kane County
February 19, 2025: Nautilus Solar Energy has officially acquired nearly 11 megawatts of Illinois community solar projects from Renewable Properties. The projects are expected to be operational soon.
—Radiance Solar & SolAmerica Team Up For 2.86MW Solar Project In Stephenson County
Developer: Radiance Solar, SolAmerica
AHJ: Stephenson, Illinois
February 18, 2025: Radiance Solar and SolAmerica have announced a collaboration for a 2.86MW solar project in Stephenson County.
—Whiteside County will settle solar farm application lawsuit accusing County Board of overriding state law
Developer: Prataria Solar LLC
AHJ: Whiteside County
February 19, 2025: Whiteside County plans to settle a lawsuit that accused the County Board of circumventing state laws regarding a solar farm application. The lawsuit was brought forth by developers seeking to establish a solar facility, alleging unfair treatment and obstruction from the local government.
Texas
OCI Energy and Arava Power announce joint venture for 260 MWac solar project in Texas
Developer: OCI Energy, Arava Power
AHJ: Wharton County
February 20, 2025: OCI Energy, and Arava Power announced the joint development of Project SunRoper, a 260 MWac solar farm in Wharton County, Texas. This marks the companies’ second joint project.
—Ashtrom Renewable Energy Announces Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with CPS Energy for El Patrimonio Solar Project in Texas
Developer: Ashtrom Renewable Energy
AHJ: Bexar County
February 19, 2025: Ashtrom Renewable Energy has entered a 20-year PPA with CPS Energy to provide electricity from the upcoming El Patrimonio solar project in Bexar County, Texas. Set to be operational by mid-2027, the project will have a capacity of approximately 150 megawatts (AC).
—Apex Clean Energy’s 100MW/200MWh Texas BESS reaches commercial operations
Developer: Apex Clean Energy
AHJ: Hidalgo County
February 19, 2025: Apex Clean Energy has officially launched their 100-megawatt Great Kiskadee Storage BESS project in Hidalgo County, Texas. Initially expected to begin operations in Q3 2024, the BESS is part of a larger project supported by $150 million in financing.
—Commissioners approve solar farm start in Dike
Developer: Hopkins Energy LLC, Solemio LLC
AHJ: Hopkins County
February 19, 2025: On February 19, 2025, the Hopkins County Commissioners approved a solar farm project by Hopkins Energy LLC, spanning 2,272 acres. They also established a reinvestment zone for five years to support the solar project, which can be renewed afterward. Additionally, Solemio LLC was granted an 18-month extension to complete construction on their Arbala solar farm, citing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Texas regulators move virtual power plant pilot development to ERCOT
February 19, 2025: Texas utility regulators have moved the management of a pilot program for aggregated distributed energy resources (ADER) to ERCOT. Currently, the ADER project operates three virtual power plants that together provide 25.5 MW of energy and nearly 20 MW of reserve services, although it has not yet achieved its target capacity of 80 MW.
—Tesla and Honda will buy power from new 300 MW Texas solar farm
Developer: Invenergy
AHJ: Lamar County, Red River County
February 18, 2025: Tesla and Honda will purchase power from the 300-megawatt Delilah I Solar Energy Center in Texas. The project will supply 200 MW to Honda and 100 MW to Tesla through VPPAs.
—Texas pilot program boosts grid with virtual power plants
Developer: Bandera Electric Cooperative, Tesla
AHJ: Bandera, TX
February 18, 2025: A new pilot program in Texas aims to bolster the electricity grid by enabling residents to participate in the wholesale power market through the creation of virtual power plants. Three virtual power plants, totaling 25.5 megawatts, have already been approved.
📢 Policy & Programs
Illinois
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.
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.
SB2416- WIND & SOLAR FACILITY DRAINAGE
Provides that a solar facility located in an unincorporated area of a county within the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality shall either be annexed to the municipality or be subject to the municipality's zoning regulations.
Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Assignments Committee.
HB 3499/SB 2340- NET ELECTRICITY METERING
Promotes community generation, cost standardization for interconnection, and net metering.
Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Assignments Committee.
Repeals clean energy legislation, including the Energy Transition Act, the Energy Community Reinvestment Act, the Community Energy, Climate, and Jobs Planning Act, and the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund Act.
Introduced in the House 2/6.
HB2810- AGRICULTURE IMPACT MITIGATION
Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to temporarily halt construction or other activities on a project upon a finding of noncompliance with an agricultural impact mitigation agreement.
Introduced in House 2/6.
Texas
HB3056- Wind/Solar Adjacent Property
A municipality or county by order shall prohibit the installation of a wind or solar power facility within 500 yards of property owned by a different person unless the owner or operator of the proposed facility obtains written consent from each owner of said adjacent property.
Filed in House 2/19.
Includes regulations for project owners/operators in decomissioning solar projects on leased property.
Filed in Senate 2/20.
Updates market value of solar property for ad valorem tax purposes. Ups useful life period to 35 years, up from 10.
Introduced in Senate 2/03. Referred to Local Government Committee.
Imposes a franchise tax on solar/wind energy producers with a capacity over 1MW.
Introduced in Senate 2/07, referred to Business and Commerce Committee.
Exempts certain transactions, including sale or lease of a solar property, from regulation by the TX Real Estate Commission.
Filed in House 2/3.
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