Spark Alerts: April 29, 2025

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

April 29, 2025

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

  • 4/29- Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups are increasingly supporting community solar bills in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio.

    • While the bills in Georgia and Missouri are now effectively off the table, Iowa and Ohio’s bills may still move through.

    • Iowa’s legislative session ends on 5/2, so movement is unlikely, but Ohio’s session will continue until 12/31.

Georgia

  • 4/29- While a community solar bill failed to pass the House this session, GOP lawmakers expressed support for future versions of the bill.

Illinois

  • 4/28- Montgomery County held a public hearing to discuss the proposed 5-MW Litchfield Solar project on unincorporated land.

  • 4/28- The City of Ottowa's Planning Commission recommended approval of an 18-acre community solar farm by SunVest, despite community pushback.

  • 4/25- Grundy County heard three zoning board appeals for one community solar farm and two utility-scale farms in the county, by Goose Lake Solar and New Leaf Energy.

Iowa

  • 4/25- An analysis by Heatmap found that Iowa’s high number of solar moratoria and restrictive ordinances over the last few years may be due in part to a carbon pipeline that generated strong local opposition and led to a push for landowner rights. 20/99 counties in Iowa currently have restrictive solar laws.

Maryland

  • 4/26- As Maryland’s 2025 legislative session ends, environmental advocates called it a “challenging” year, citing budget constraints and compromises made despite positive achievements like accelerating utility-scale solar development.

  • 4/25- The Maryland Energy Administration awarded The University of Maryland, Baltimore County a $1.2 million grant to install solar on campus.

Michigan

  • 4/26- Northwest Michigan University has received a $100K grant to build a solar project on campus.

  • 4/25- Lapeer County commissioners voiced opposition to state laws impacting local input on wind and solar development, and said they would support local fights against such projects while complying with state mandates.

Missouri

  • 4/25- Ameren Missouri announced a 12% rate hike beginning in June, with utility representatives saying the hike would fund grid improvements, including additional wind and solar development.

Ohio

  • 4/25- Ohio Wesleyan University is partnering with GRP|WEGMAN to develop a 6-MW solar project and 2-MW storage facility to provide power on campus.

Pennsylvania

  • 4/26- Blair County approved plans for three solar farms by Ampliform LLC, totaling 20 MW.

Wisconsin

  • 4/28- Ameresco completed a solar-plus-storage project at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, funded by a $1.6 million grant from the Aspen Institute.

📋 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

  • MI Healthy Climate Challenge: Solar For Savings

    • 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

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

📢 Policy & Program Updates

Missouri

  • HB662

    • Creates a community solar program

    • UPDATE- Hearing set for 4/29 was postponed.

    • Missouri’s legislative session ends this week, and with this hearing postponed, the community solar bill is effectively dead.

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