Spark Alerts: April 25, 2025

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

April 25, 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

  • 4/23- The Trump administration approved a nearly $600 million Biden-era grant to Dairyland Power Cooperative to pursue over 1,000 MW of clean energy PPAs in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

  • 4/22- Standard Solar has acquired a 39-MW community solar portfolio in Illinois from New Leaf Energy.

  • 4/22- Peoria County unanimously approved a 2.5-MW solar and 1.5-MW BESS system by Ameren Illinois.

  • 4/21- Nexamp and Walmart are investing in 31 community solar projects in five states, including Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota.

📰 Market & Development News

📢 Policy & Programs

  • HB3374- ENERGY EFFICIENCY-EXTEND REPEAL

    • Extends the repeal date for IL’s Renewable Energy Act of 1997, which prioritized grants and incentives to foster renewable development. The original bill is set to expire on 12/31/25, this bill extends that date out to 12/31/26.

    • Introduced in House 2/18, passed House 4/11.

    • UPDATE- first Senate reading 4/23, referred to Assignments Committee.

East Coast: MD, NY, PA, VA

📰 Market & Development News

Maryland

  • 4/22- Worcester County scheduled a public hearing for a 5-MW project by Turning Point Energy for 5/6.

  • 4/22- Wicomico County scheduled public hearings on Wicomico Wilbur Solar, three colocated projects totaling 15 MW, for 5/5.

  • 4/22- Baltimore County delayed a council vote on two solar bills to review the impact of state legislation preventing local governments from adopting prohibitive zoning laws. The bills would increase solar setbacks and ban solar on prime farmland.

  • 4/21- Montgomery County’s parks department announced plans to double the park system’s solar energy production over the next five years, to nearly 6.8 million kilowatt-hours.

New York

Pennsylvania

Virginia

  • 4/24- Residents of Sussex County are organizing against a proposed 600-MW solar project by Clenera.

  • 4/24- Lightshift Energy and Danville Utilities are partnering on an 11-MW BESS project in Danville, which is expected to come online in 2026.

  • 4/23- Rockbridge County granted USS Hilltop Solar an 18-month extension to complete construction of a 3-MW solar array on a local farm.

  • 4/23- Westmoreland County tabled a SUP request for a 5-MW project by Colonial Solar until the county can vote on a new solar ordinance.

  • 4/21- Dominion Energy is planning a 3-MW solar project on a closed landfill in Albemarle County.

📢 Policy & Programs

New York

  • SB5111- Just Energy Transition Act

    • Requires a study of options to facilitate the phase-out, replacement, and redevelopment of New York's oldest and most-polluting fossil fuel generation facilities.

    • Introduced in Senate 2/19, passed Senate 4/22.

    • UPDATE- Introduced in Assembly 4/22, referred to Energy Committee.

Pennsylvania

  • HB504- Community Solar

    • Creates a community solar program.

    • Introduced in House 4/23, referred to Consumer Protection Committee.

📋 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- NEW

  • MI Healthy Climate Challenge: Solar For Savings- NEW

    • Includes multiple funding rounds to support projects that help the state reach carbon neutrality.

    • First round of funding will offer $9 million in grants for residential and community solar projects. Entries are due by 5pm on 7/30. See this link for more information.

  • 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

New York- NEW

  • Grid Enhancing Technologies Program- NEW

    • A $12 million grant administered by NYSERDA for development projects or research studies to enable a high-performing grid and transform the delivery of clean, renewable energy resources. The maximum grant per project is $3 million. Applications are due by 7/15.

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

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