Spark Alerts: March 18, 2025

Note: This is a proof of concept for Spark Alerts, focusing on utility-scale solar news and policy updates in Illinois and Texas. Please help us improve by sharing your feedback with us!

📰 Market & Development News

Illinois

• 3/17- Champaign County discussed proposed amendments to storage zoning, including SUP requirements and new fees.

• 3/17- The City of Sandwich approved a decommissioning bond for a community solar project by Turning Point Energy.

• 3/14- The City of Yorkville moved a utility solar farm by Nexamp to city council review.

• 3/14- The McLean County Board delayed a vote on a proposed 5-MW facility by Yarrow Solar, after Zoning Board approval, to allow for further negotiations.

Texas

• 3/18- RWE and Meta announced a new PPA for a 200MW solar project in Bastrop County.

• 3/14- Networking firm Cisco signed a 100MW PPA on six VPPs with X-Elio.

• 3/14- Harris County approved a $24 million low-income solar grant program across Texas.

• 3/14- Experts say clean energy has bolstered Texas’ grid and pushed down prices, despite its opponents claiming otherwise.

📢 Policy & Programs

Illinois

• SB2387- AGRICULTURAL LAND CONSERVATION ACT

  • Would pay lessees for any agricultural land removed from production to develop a solar farm.

  • Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Appropriations Committee.

• 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. Assigned to Public Utilities Committee 3/11.

  • UPDATE- Committee hearing TBH 3/18 at 2:00pm.

Texas

• HB2349/SB1172- Tax Exemptions

  • Exempts certain transactions, including sale or lease of a solar property, from regulation by the TX Real Estate Commission.

  • Filed in House 2/3, filed in Senate 2/7.

  • Senate hearing held 3/11. Bill left pending in committee.

  • UPDATE- Sent to House Licensing Committee 3/14.

• HB5776- Best Management Practices

  • Lays out regulations to require certain practices for the design, construction, and operation of utility-scale wind and solar facilities.

  • Filed in House 3/14.

• HB3228/SB2657- Solar Recycling

  • Mandates inclusion of certain recycling/disposal provisions in wind and solar lease agreements.

  • Filed in House 2/24.

  • UPDATE- sister bill filed in Senate 3/13.

• SB2659- Renewable Recycling

  • Lays out regulations and requirements for recycling of renewable system components.

  • Filed in Senate 3/13.

• SB1824- Battery Decommissioning

  • Lays out regulations for removal of battery storage systems.

  • Filed in Senate 3/3. Sister bill filed in House 23/5.

  • UPDATE- Sent to Senate Business Committee 3/13.

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