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 Illinois and Texas. Please help us improve by sharing your feedback with us!

📰 Market & Development News

Illinois

• 4/24- Champaign County approved a SUP for Baywa.re’s 135-MW Little Prairie solar and storage project. The county is also building $500,000 worth of solar at local government buildings.

• 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- Construction is continuing on Swift Current Energy’s 600-MW solar plant that is planned to power 70% of Chicago’s energy use.

• 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.

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

Illinois

• 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.

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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