Spark Alerts: April 30, 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

• 4/29- Turning Point Energy met with representatives from the Village of Monee to discuss a potential large-scale solar farm.

• 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 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.

Texas

• 4/29- A poll found that restrictions on solar and wind proposed by Texas’s SB819 and SB388 were broadly unpopular with Republicans in the state.

• 4/29- Private equity firm Stonepeak acquired a 46% stake in Repsol’s solar/storage portfolio across New Mexico and Texas.

• 4/28- Electronics manufacturer Danfoss signed a seven-year PPA with Cypress Creek Renewables to power all its US facilities with the 270 MW Shakes Solar facility in Dimmitt County.

• 4/25- Spearmint Energy announced it has closed $252 million of funding for two 100-MW BESS projects in Del Rio and Laredo.

• 4/25- Belltown Power Texas has announced six new data center developments across North Texas totaling 1.4 GW.

• 4/25- The Solar Energy Industries Association ranked Texas among the top five US states in solar capacity.

• 4/25- State regulators approved a budget plan to build out new transmission lines across Texas to meet energy demand.

📢 Policy & Programs

Texas

• HB3228

  • Mandates the inclusion of recycling and disposal provisions in solar lease agreements.

  • Introduced in House 3/20.

  • UPDATE- Passed third reading 120-0 on 4/25. Will move to Senate. A companion bill to set reporting requirements for recycling facilities also passed the House on 4/28.

• HB5692

  • Creates the Palagena Energy District to serve Duval County, including provisions to allow it to purchase solar and storage.

  • Filed in House and transmitted to the Governor 4/28.

• HB4725

  • Grants a sales tax exemption for the sale or lease of distributed energy systems for residential or business use.

  • Introduced in House 4/3, sent to Ways & Means Committee.

  • UPDATE- public hearing held on 4/28.

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