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

• 4/28- 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.

📰 Market & Development News

📢 Policy & Programs

• No community solar policy updates.

East Coast: MD, NY, PA, VA

📰 Market & Development News

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.

New York

• 4/28- New York plans to install a 10-MW solar and 10-MW BESS facility on a wastewater plant near New York City.

• 4/28- State legislators called on the New York PSC to reverse its recent decision to eliminate $271 million in previously authorized funding from the state’s rooftop and community solar program.

• 4/25- New York’s goal to build out 10 GW of distributed solar by 2030 is expected to be achieved ahead of schedule and under budget. NYSERDA will reinvest parts of the surplus funds back into the NY-Sun program to benefit low-income customers.

• 4/24- UGE announced that it has reached commercial operation on a 1.4-MW rooftop community solar project in Queens.

Pennsylvania

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

Virginia

• 4/28- Russell County officials are considering the county’s first three solar development proposals, which would total 22 MW— one by CEP Solar and two by New Leaf Energy.

• 4/28- A Democratic state senator cited pushback from constituents on her February decision to avoid voting on a bill to limit the power of local governments to regulate solar projects. The bill failed to pass in the Senate.

📢 Policy & Programs

Maryland

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

New York

Pennsylvania

Virginia

📋 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

• IPA Summer 2025 Indexed Wind, Solar Brownfield & Hydropower RFP

  • The IPA will hold a webcast on the Summer 2025 Indexed RFP on 5/28. RSVP here.

  • On 3/24, the IPA posted the Final Targets for the 2025 REC RFP.

  • On 4/16, the ICC posted a draft contract and proposal requirements on its website. Feedback is open until 5/7.

• Misc

  • Bidprime lists ten open paywalled opportunities for small-scale solar RFPs in IL.

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

  • Bidprime lists five open paywalled opportunities for small-scale solar RFPs in MD.

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

  • Bidprime lists four open paywalled opportunities for small-scale solar RFPs in MI.

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

  • BidPrime lists one paywalled opportunity for a solar installation in MO.

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

  • Bidprime lists two open paywalled opportunities for small-scale solar RFPs in WI.

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