Spark Alerts: April 25, 2025

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

📰 Market & Development News

Arizona

• 4/23- Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a state bill that would have waived regulations and fast-tracked development for data centers and small modular reactors.

Colorado

• 4/23- Colorado lawmakers announced they will wait at least a year to consider legislation to speed up the state’s clean energy goals.

• 4/22- CU Boulder announced the groundbreaking of a 1-MW solar array on campus.

New Mexico

• 4/24- New Mexico’s community solar program, signed into law in 2021, is officially live.

Texas

• 4/24- **State legislators are considering opening a state loan pool to geothermal projects amid state-level pushback on renewables.

• 4/21- A growing number of renewable developers in Texas are pausing projects, citing market uncertainty and anti-renewable bills in the state legislature.

📢 Policy & Programs

Colorado

• HB1006

  • Allows school districts to lease a district property for solar or affordable housing for any term of years, rather than current term limits.

  • Introduced in House 1/8, passed House 2/4.

  • Passed Senate with amendments (not focused on solar) 4/4, House rejected amendments.

  • UPDATE- passed Senate again on 4/24.

Texas

• HB3278

  • Would establish a study to determine any potential negative environmental effects of renewables.

  • Introduced in House 3/23, referred to State Affairs Committee.

  • UPDATE- committee failed to approve on 4/23. Bill is effectively dead.

• HB3356

  • Would require renewable developers to purchase fossil fuel generation to offset periods in which they do not operate.

  • Introduced in House 3/21, referred to State Affairs Committee.

  • UPDATE- Passed Committee review 4/23, will move to House vote.

• SB819

  • Would implement severe restrictions on renewable project siting.

  • Introduced in Senate 2/7, passed Senate 4/15.

  • UPDATE- Introduced in House 4/22, referred to State Affairs Committee.

• SB388

  • Would require 1 watt of gas power to be brought online for every 1 watt of renewable power brought online.

  • Introduced in Senate 2/3, passed Senate 3/19.

  • UPDATE- Introduced in House 4/22, referred to State Affairs Committee.

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