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

• 4/7- The Trump administration’s incoming tariffs could lead to a 65-80% tariff on grid-scale batteries.

• 4/4- The US solar industry hopes early hoarding of modules from Southeast Asia can help reduce economic strain from new tariffs.

• 4/4- The DOE identified 16 federal sites that could house large-scale data centers, including sites in Illinois and Missouri.

• 4/4- As most of the stock market plummeted after the Trump administration’s tariffs took effect, but First Solar’s stocks rose by almost 5%.

Illinois

• 4/4- The Chicago suburb of Naperville overwhelmingly voted in pro-climate city council members who plan to reduce the city’s reliance on coal.

Maryland

• 4/7- The Maryland legislature passed a bill package that will expedite permitting for community solar and give the state the power to override certain local solar bans.

• 4/4- The Maryland PSC will hold a public hearing on Halo Colora’s 5MW Theodore Road solar project on 4/16.

Michigan

• 4/4- La Porte County voted 3-5 to reject a six-month solar moratorium.

• 4/4- Tyrone Township rescinded a moratorium on solar a week after passing it, but remained opposed to utility solar, saying moratoria made solar development easier through the state PSC.

• 4/3- Hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents lost power last week after a historic ice storm struck the region.

Ohio

• 4/4- APA Solar announced plans for a new solar manufacturing facility in Ridgeville.

Pennsylvania

• 4/7- Rockford Solar is alleging that East Fairfield Township violated its civil rights and engaged in extortion by proposing over $150m in fees.

• 4/4- A state House bill to approve PA’s Solar For All program funds (HB362) was amended with a controversial rider that could potentially gut state net metering.

📋 RFP Opportunities

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.

• 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

• Xcel Energy 2025 RFP- NEW

  • 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.

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- NEW

  • 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- NEW

  • 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.

📢 Policy & Program Updates

Illinois

• No bill movement. Senate committee decision deadlines for the following Senate bills have been set for 4/11:

  • SB2289- sets new formulas for the Illinois Power Agency’s RPS compliance targets.

  • SB1816- Allows for post-award renegotiation of contract terms for renewable energy projects supported through competitive procurements.

  • SB2473- Provides that, by November 1, 2025, and by November 1 every 3 years thereafter, all electric cooperatives in IL shall file an integrated resource plan.

Maryland

• SB931/HB1036- Renewable Energy Certainty Act

  • Among other changes, expands state’s ability to preempt local zoning and tax rules for energy projects over 2MW.

  • Introduced 2/3, passed Senate 4/1, passed House with amendments 4/5.

  • UPDATE- Passed Senate with amendments 4/7, will move to Governor.

• SB937/HB1035- Next Generation Energy Act

  • Creates an expedited permitting process for multiple energy projects, including zero-emissions sources as well as dispatchable plants.

  • Introduced in Senate 1/28, passed Senate 3/14.

  • Passed House with amendments 4/5.

  • UPDATE- Passed Senate with amendments 4/7. Will move to Governor.

• HB1111- Floating Solar

  • Allows for floating solar projects of 5MW or less to receive small solar incentive grants.

  • Introduced in House 3/05, Passed House on 3/17.

  • UPDATE- Senate Energy Committee recommended passage on 4/7.

• HB505/SB434- Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Renaming and Alterations

  • Ups the minimum required percentage of energy that must be derived from clean energy sources in certain years under the clean energy portfolio standard.

  • Introduced in House 2/7.

  • UPDATE- Passed House on 4/7.

Ohio

• HB15- Amend competitive retail electric service law

  • Among other large-scale changes, establishes a community energy pilot program- effectively a community solar program using other energy sources as well as solar.

  • Introduced in House 1/23, passed House 3/26.

  • UPDATE-Hearing held 4/8 at 9pm.

Pennsylvania

• HB1155- Community Solar

  • Establishes a community solar program (5MW project cap/20MW project cap for brownfields).

  • Introduced in House 4/7, referred to Energy Committee.

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