Spark Alerts: April 15, 2025

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

April 15, 2025

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

  • 4/12- The City of Macomb held a public hearing for an SUP to power a local wastewater plant with a solar project developed by Utopian Power.

  • 4/11- Summit Ridge announced a $400 million partnership with Apollo Funds to build commercial solar projects across Illinois.

📰 Market & Development News

📢 Policy & Programs

  • No bill movement. Committee decision deadlines for the following Senate bills have been set for 4/9:

    • SB2289- sets new formulas for the Illinois Power Agency’s RPS compliance targets.

    • SB1816- Allows for post-award renegotiation of contract terms for renewable energy projects supported through competitive procurements.

    • SB2473- Provides that, by November 1, 2025, and by November 1 every 3 years thereafter, all electric cooperatives in IL shall file an integrated resource plan.

    • SB1442- Provides for a fund to facilitate local construction workforces, and provides for offshore wind REC purchases by the Illinois Power Agency.

    • SB2497- Authorizes the Illinois Power Agency to conduct competitive solicitations to procure contracted energy storage credits. Removes additional barriers to renewable development.

East Coast: MD, NY, PA, VA

📰 Market & Development News

Maryland

  • 4/14- Chaberton Solar held a second public hearing for a CPCN to construct a 3-MW project in Montgomery County.

New York

  • 4/14- The Town of Wethersfield held a public hearing to discuss updates to its ordinance regulating the installation and operation of solar facilities.

  • 4/12- Kearsage Energy’s community solar project on a former landfill in Southampton Town has completed construction.

Virginia

  • 4/15- Mecklenburg County voted to block utility-scale solar as a future permitted land use across thee county, though it will still consider three existing project applications.

  • 4/14- Patrick County formally terminated a siting agreement for Energix Renewables’ 12-MW Fairy Stone Solar project.

  • 4/11- Horus Virginia I LLC filed a notice of intent with the VA DEQ to permit a 50-MW solar project in Clarke County.

  • 4/11- Gateway Grid withdrew a notice of intent to permit a 100-MW solar project in Botetourt County.

  • 4/10- CEP Solar pulled two projects for redesign after Prince Edward County’s planning board recommended one and denied another.

📢 Policy & Programs

New York

  • A7769/S2109

    • Establishes a distributed generation & community solar siting commission to examine reasons for delays on community solar projects and expedite project timelines.

    • Introduced in Assembly 4/10, referred to Energy Committee. Sister bill to Senate bill introduced 1/15 and stalled in Committee.

  • A3466

    • Sets that all operations that power, heat or cool the Empire State Plaza complex shall entirely use renewable energy.

    • Introduced in Assembly 1/27, referred to Governmental Operations Committee.

    • UPDATE- Amended and sesent to committee 4/10.

📋 RFP Opportunities

Georgia

  • Georgia Power – 2029–2031 All-Source Capacity RFP-

    • An all-source solicitation for new generation capacity (including utility-scale solar projects via PPAs or build-transfer) to meet Georgia Power’s needs in 2029–2031

    • The RFP was launched in 2024 and is accepting bidder registration and proposals via an Accion online portal. A full schedule and bid due dates will be announced in 2025.

  • Georgia Power – CARES 2025 Renewable RFP

    • A utility-scale renewables RFP under the Clean and Renewable Energy Subscription (CARES) program, targeting ~2,100 MW of new solar and wind capacity for commercial/industrial subscribers.

    • The 2025 CARES RFP is being issued in Q2 2025, with proposal submission anticipated later in 2025.

Illinois

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.

  • Misc

Michigan

  • Consumers Energy 2025 RFP

    • A broad Request for Proposals announced by Consumers Energy to add new generation resources, including utility-scale solar projects (via PPA or build-transfer), to meet future capacity needs and supply its Green Pricing program.

    • The RFP process began with a bidder conference on 4/10, and proposal submission will occur through an online portal in mid-2025 (exact due date TBD).

  • Xcel Energy 2025 RFP

    • Excel Energy is seeking 200 MW of solar or solar + storage hybrid generation assets in the Upper Midwest, to come online by 3/31/2029. Bids are due 4/29. A second RFP will be issued on 6/22.

  • 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

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

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 SEF Regenerative Energy RFP

    • The Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) is seeking projects that will support the deployment of circular energy and agrivoltaics. Bids are due by 5/15.

  • 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

  • Xcel Energy 2025 RFP

    • Excel Energy is seeking 200 MW of solar or solar + storage hybrid generation assets in the Upper Midwest, to come online by 3/31/2029. Bids are due 4/29. A second RFP will be issued on 6/22.

  • Misc

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.

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