Feb 25, 2025 Issue

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

• Clean Investment Monitor: Q4 2024 Update
  February 24, 2025: In the final quarter of 2024, clean energy and transportation investment in the United States totaled $70 billion, reflecting a slight 1% decline from the previous quarter but a 6% increase from the same period in 2023. The U.S. saw a record-high $272 billion invested in clean energy and transportation in 2024 but growth slowed in the final quarter of the year.
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• Exclusive: BP to ditch renewables goals and return focus to fossil fuels
  February 24, 2025: According to Reuters, BP will scrap a target on Wednesday to increase renewable generation by 2030, returning the company’s focus to fossil fuels, as part of a strategy shift to tackle investor concerns over lowered stock value. Last year, BP also dropped a target to decrease oil/gas output by 2030.
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• Solar and battery storage will lead new generation in 2025: EIA
  February 24, 2025: According to a new report published by the Energy Information Administration, 81% of expected utility-scale generation capacity brought online in 2025 will be from solar and storage. This amounts to around 63 GW, a projected 30% increase from 2024’s capacity installations.

Illinois

• Ogle County Approves Community Solar Farm
  Developer: OneEnergy Development LLC
  AHJ: Ogle County
  February 21, 2025: Ogle County has approved a 16-acre, 2MWac community solar facility, with a 5-0 vote from the Zoning Board of Appeals and an 8-1 vote from the Planning and Zoning Committee. The local government has recently enhanced its regulatory framework, including implementing a fixed application cost of $100,000 for commercial solar projects.
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• Public Hearing for Solar Array System Installation in Shiloh
  Developer: Donato Solar
  AHJ: Village of Shiloh
  February 24, 2025: The Village of Shiloh held a public hearing on Monday evening, concerning a special use permit for a proposed 2MW solar array system. This project also includes a storage facility. The hearing aims to gather public input on the proposal.

Maryland

• Henryton Solar Farm Updates
  Developer: Nautilus Solar
  AHJ: Howard County
  February 23, 2025: The 2.3MW Henryton community solar farm has enrolled 227 customers and will begin power production in mid-July.

Ohio

• Knox County townships reaffirm opposition to solar
  AHJ: Knox County
  February 21, 2025: During a public hearing in Knox County on February 20, township trustees reaffirmed their communities' opposition to solar energy projects. Eleven trustees expressed opposition to solar developments. Clinton Township recently passed a resolution to ban solar projects. The board plans to pass a resolution at its February 27 meeting.
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• Are Ohio solar critics speaking as elected officials — or as neighbors?
  Developer: Open Road Renewables
  AHJ: Logan County
  February 24, 2025: Last Friday, the Logan County Board issued a report recommending the denial of a permit for a 500MW solar farm. The developer, Open Road Renewables, is urging state regulators to view local officials’ comments as personal views rather than official government positions, because they have not followed open meetings rules and have allowed members with conflicts of interest to participate in votes.
  - NOTE- utility scale, but could have market ramifications in Ohio.

Pennsylvania

• Shapiro says federal funding for Pa. cut off by Trump administration is unfrozen
  February 24, 2025: Governor Josh Shapiro announced that more that $2 billion of federal funding for Pennsylvania that had been cut off by the Trum[ administration would be unfrozen. The bulk of these funds will go towards environmental programs like plugging gas wells, building clean water infrastructure, and providing low-income home retrofits.
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• Solar energy project to support natural gas plant in Bedford County
  Developer: Enbridge
  AHJ: Bedford County
  February 23, 2025: A 7-megawatt solar array is being constructed in Bedford County to support liquid natural gas operations by Enbridge. Local officials expressed optimism for future solar projects, and say they have not seen any public opposition to the project.
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• Mifflin County approves solar ordinance
  AHJ: Mifflin County
  February 21, 2025: In a recent meeting, Mifflin County Commissioners approved a major ordinance for solar energy development, creating new regulations that will apply to 16 municipalities within the county. This ordinance aims to streamline the transition of agricultural land to solar installations, setting forth guidelines for decommissioning, environmental management, and taxation.
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• Cambria County explores solar at prison complex
  Developer: Solar Landscape, Madison Energy, BAI Group
  AHJ: Cambria County
  February 23, 2025: Cambria County Commissioners approved an RFP in 2024 exploring the installation of a solar facility at the Cambria County Prison Complex for a project of unspecified size, likely around 40 acres. Cambria officials have received three responses to the request for proposals, from Solar Landscape, Madison Energy and BAI Group.

Wisconsin

• Caledonia Plan Commission Advances Solar Plan
  Developer: J&L Trading-Investments LLC
  AHJ: Village of Caledonia
  February 24, 2025: The Caledonia Plan Commission held a meeting on Monday, to review of a building, site, and operation plan for a 32-acre solar project on agricultural land. Solar is permitted in this zoning district within the Village. The Commission considered public comments from local citizens. Minutes have not yet been released.
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• Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Committee discusses solar energy projects and ordinances
  AHJ: Jefferson County
  February 24, 2025: The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Committee held a meeting on Monday morning, where they reviewed six distinct solar projects in the county. Additionally, they discussed a draft amendment to the zoning ordinance specifically focused on regulation for solar projects, including new siting, construction, and CUP application requirements.

📋 RFP Opportunities

Michigan

• 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.

Missouri

• 2025 Millennium Park Solar Lighting Project

  • An organization in Missouri is seeking proposals to provide solar lighting in Milleneum Park, in Creve Coeur, St. Louis County, Missouri.

📢 Policy & Program Updates

Maryland

• HB1061- Housing and Solar Energy Production

  • Requires state government to review all state-owned property for suitability for redevelopment into either solar or housing projects.

  • Introduced in House 2/5.

  • UPDATE- House hearing scheduled for 2/26 at 1:00pm.

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