Distributed Generation news, RFPs and program policy updates in US federal policy, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

📰 Market & Development News

US

• 4/3- Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on nearly all US trade partners.

• 4/1- A new Energy Innovation report found that repealing IRA tax credits would add $6 billion in energy bills to US consumers.

• 4/1- Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas have signed bills replicating the federal Department of Government Efficiency, which could lead to decreased environmental protections and state renewable incentives.

Illinois

• 4/1- Kane County held public hearings for two community solar farms by SuryaPower. No decisions were reached.

Iowa

• 4/2- Kossuth County hired a law firm to write commercial solar regulations, citing setbacks as a key issue.

• 4/1- Muscadine County held public hearings for large-scale battery and solar projects, drawing significant public opposition. The County also discussed BESS fire safety trainings and developer cleanup responsibilities arising from natural disasters.

Maryland

• 4/1- Caroline County officials proposed a 5% acreage cap on solar installations within critical areas in the County.

• 3/31- Solar Landscape has installed 14 new rooftop community solar projects across Maryland, totaling 6.6 MW. The company has over 50 planned projects in the state.

Michigan

• 4/1- Burdell Township proposed regulations for solar, restricting solar over 1/2 an acre in size to commercial and industrial zones.

Pennsylvania

• 4/2- Penn Township held a public hearing to grant an SUP to Burget & Associates for an unspecified solar project.

• 4/2- Scott County held two public hearings regarding special use permit applications submitted by Pivot Energy.

• 4/1- GreenKey Development Inc. filed a lawsuit against the town of East Huntingdon, saying supervisors “hastily and improperly” adopted an ordinance to set strict requirements for solar.

• 4/1- The City of Scranton approved its first solar farm, a 3-MW project by Bear Peak Power.

📋 RFP Opportunities

Illinois

• IPA Summer 2025 Indexed Wind, Solar Brownfield & Hydropower RFP

  • The IPA will hold a webcast on the Summer 2025 Indexed RFP on 5/28. RSVP here.

  • On 3/24, the IPA posted the Final Targets for the 2025 REC RFP.

• Misc

  • Bidprime lists three paywalled opportunities for small-scale solar RFPs.

Maryland

• Maryland Solar For All has indicated that it will soon open its selection process for low-income solar contractors, and has opened an RFP for a grant management specialist.

Michigan

• DTE Energy Storage RFP

  • MI DTE announced an RFP for standalone energy storage projects to support its CleanVision IRP, with about 450MW total capacity. Bidders can register company information on the PowerAdvocate website. Bids are due 6/27.

• Agriculture and Rural Business Energy Incentive Program

  • The Michigan Department of Environment has issued an RFP for renewable energy projects for farms, agribusinesses, and rural businesses/nonprofits. The RFP will close on 4/25, with grants expected to go out by 8/31.

• Misc

  • BidPrime lists a paywalled opportunity for a solar and battery project installation at city facilities.

Missouri

• MDNR Grid Resilience Formula Funding (GRFF) Subgrants

  • Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources is offering $13 million in total funding to “improve the all-hazards resilience of the electric grid against disruptive events and prevent outages” for projects located in Missouri.

• Missouri Green Banc: Applications for Energy Improvement Project Funding

  • Missouri Green Banc has an open RFP to solicit proposals to finance energy improvement projects. Applicants may “propose transactions that facilitate the financing of clean energy projects in Missouri”. This is an ongoing solicitation open to proposers in connection with a range of clean energy projects and businesses.

• Misc

  • BidPrime lists a paywalled opportunity for a solar installation.

Ohio

• SOPEC Solar Development Planning

  • The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) is requesting competitive proposals from solar developers to bundle a variety of behind-the-meter solar arrays into a unified PPA, with an option to purchase the solar arrays after the PPA term. No submission date is listed. Submissions are due by email.

Pennsylvania

• PA Department of Commerce Solar Energy Program

  • The Solar Energy Program provides grants and loans to promote the generation and use of solar energy and the manufacture or assembly of solar equipment in Pennsylvania, up to $3 per watt. Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis.

Wisconsin

• Misc

  • BidPrime lists a paywalled opportunity for a ground-mounted solar installation.

📢 Policy & Program Updates

Iowa

• HF 404 (formerly HSB 81)- Community Solar

  • Establishes a community solar program for the state and sets out potential regulations and definitions.

  • Introduced in House 2/13.

  • UPDATE- Referred to House Commerce Committee 4/3.

Maryland

• HB4/SB120- Land Use Cost

  • Prohibiting any restriction on land use that increases the cost of installing a solar collector system by at least 5% over a certain cost, or that reduces the efficiency of the system by at least 10%.

  • UPDATE- Passed in Senate 4/2. Will move to Governor.

Missouri

• HB662- Community Solar

  • Establishes a community solar program for the state and sets out potential regulations and definitions.

  • Introduced in House 1/8.

  • UPDATE- House Committee recommended passage 4/1. Will move to full House vote.

• HB 440- Solar Taxation

  • Increases tax rate on agricultural landowners participating in solar projects, equal to $2500 per megawatt of nameplate capacity.

  • Introduced in House 1/8.

  • UPDATE- House Committee recommended passage 4/2. Will move to full House vote.

Ohio

• HB15- Amend competitive retail electric service law

  • Among other large-scale changes, establishes a community energy pilot program- effectively a community solar program using other energy sources as well as solar.

  • Introduced 1/23, passed House 3/26.

  • UPDATE- Introduced in Senate 4/1, referred to Energy Committee.

Pennsylvania

• HB1080- Solar Decommissioning

  • Lays out requirements for solar project decommissioning.

  • Introduced in House 4/1, referred to Energy Committee.

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