Spark Alerts: March 21, 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

• 3/19- CleanGen Inc applied for a SUP to construct a 128-MW solar project and colocated 64-MW BESS project in Rock Island County.

Texas

• 3/18- Meta signed a third PPA with RWE, this time for 100% of the output from a 200-MW project in Bastrop County.

• 3/18- Invenergy began commercial operations on a 300-MW project in Lamar and Red River Counties, including VPPA deals with Honda and Tesla.

• 3/18- Module manufacturer T1 (formerly Freyr) will build a 5GW solar cell plant in Austin.

• 3/18- El Paso Electric unveiled a 10-MW solar facility in San Elizario.

📢 Policy & Programs

Illinois

• HB 3499/SB 2310- NET ELECTRICITY METERING

  • Promotes community generation, cost standardization for interconnection, and net metering.

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

  • UPDATE- committee hearing postponed on 3/20.

• SB2387- AGRICULTURAL LAND CONSERVATION ACT

  • Would pay lessees for any agricultural land removed from production to develop a solar farm, between $700-900 per acre.

  • Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Assignments Committee. Amended 3/5.

  • UPDATE- Added Republican co-sponsor 3/19, making this a bipartisan-backed bill.

• HB3499- RECA AMENDMENT

  • Hire state staff to “promote distributed renewable energy generation devices and community renewable generation projects in the State”, removes barriers to renewable development.

  • Introduced in House 2/7, referred to Rules Committee.

  • UPDATE- Committee voted to pass on 3/18. Moved to second reading.

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.

  • Sent to House Licensing Committee 3/14.

  • UPDATE- Senate Commerce Committee recommended passage on 3/19.

• HB3229/SB2659- Renewable Recycling

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

  • Filed in House 3/4, Senate 3/13.

  • UPDATE- First reading in House 3/20, referred to Environmental Committee.

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