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

• US Energy Secretary Pledges to Reverse Focus on Clean Energy
  March 10, 2025: At the CERAWeek 2025 conference, Chris Wright, the new US Energy Secretary, vowed to reverse the Biden administration’s focus on clean energy, calling it a “poor direction” in energy policy.
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• Trump officials escalate fight to take back $20B in climate money
  March 8, 2025: In an effort to claw back Biden-era climate funding, the Trump administration has ordered several nonprofits which were awarded funds to turn over records to the FBI and appear in federal court later this month.
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• Canada slaps electricity tariffs on New York, Minnesota, Michigan
  March 10, 2025: Ontario will apply a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to three U.S. states, beginning Monday, in response to U.S. tariffs on Canada.
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• Climate coalition launches lawsuit against Trump freeze
  March 8, 2025: A coalition of nonprofits granted $7 billion in federal funds for climate and housing projects sued the EPA and Citibank to restore its access to the money.

Georgia

• Firms to produce first fully US-made silicon solar panels, target 1GW output yearly
  March 6, 2025: Three solar panel manufacturers, Suniva, Heliene, and Corning, have unveiled plans to produce solar modules in Georgia that will be exclusively available within the domestic market.
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• Was more clean energy attainable in past Georgia Power plans?
  March 6, 2025: Clean energy advocates testify that Georgia Power’s previous integrated plans included a “lack of efficiency in the state’s energy capacity” as well as a lack of net metering incentives for solar.

Illinois

• Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing and meeting
  AHJ: Village of Barrington Hills
  March 10, 2025: The village of Barrington Hills approved amendments to its zoning code, outlining new zoning and SUP requirements for solar projects.
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• New Energy Equity Partners with Harlem Consolidated School District on Community Solar Project
  Developer: New Energy Equity
  AHJ: Winnebago County
  March 7, 2025: New Energy Equity has partnered with Harlem Consolidated School District to develop a 5.54 megawatt solar energy project. The project, originally developed by BOW Renewables, will be built on school district-owned land in eastern Winnebago County.

Iowa

• Allamakee County Supervisors Solar Utility Zoning Amendment
  AHJ: Allamakee County
  March 10, 2025: The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing regarding an amendment establishing regulations and SUP requirements for utility-scale solar.
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• Clinton County Solar Moratorium
  AHJ: Clinton
  March 10, 2025: The Clinton County Board of Supervisors passed a county-wide moratorium on new utility-scale solar installations. This decision comes after the county has permitted four solar installations, and the county now seeks to evaluate the impact of these projects. The moratorium will stand in place until the existing projects are operational.

Maryland

• Caroline countians testify against solar siting legislation
  AHJ: Caroline County, MD
  March 7, 2025: In a Maryland Senate hearing, Caroline County leaders and farmers expressed strong opposition to the Renewable Energy Certainty Act (SB 931). They argued that the bill could lead to extensive solar development on prime agricultural land, threatening local farming and undermining community zoning regulations.

Michigan

• No community solar market or competitor updates since last issue.

Missouri

• No community solar market or competitor updates since last issue.

Ohio

• Dayton plans money-saving 25-acre solar array at old Sherwin-Williams fire site
  AHJ: City of Dayton
  March 6, 2025: The city of Dayton is planning to install a 5-megawatt solar array on a high-profile former brownfield site. Officials say the solar array will help power a water treatment plant.
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• Updates on Palomino Solar Project
  Developer: Innergex
  AHJ: Highland County
  March 10, 2025: During a Highland County Board of Commissioners meeting, Innergex provided updates on their 200-megawatt Palomino Solar project, noting that it has secured its Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA). Additionally, Innergex’s development team is ready to transfer project oversight to the construction team.
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• Another utility-scale Ohio solar project bites the dust
  Developer: Open Road Renewables
  AHJ: Logan County
  March 7, 2025: The 500-megawatt Grange Solar Grazing Center project in central Ohio faced significant opposition from local residents, leading to its permit denial by the Ohio Power Siting Board.

Pennsylvania

• No community solar market or competitor updates since last issue.

Wisconsin

• City of Sun Prairie becomes first Wisconsin municipality to achieve 100% renewable electricity
  AHJ: City of Sun Prairie
  March 8, 2025: The City of Sun Prairie became the first municipality in Wisconsin to use 100% renewable electricity for all city operations.
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• Darien solar field project now online
  Developer: Invenergy
  AHJ: Darien, Walworth
  March 7, 2025: The 250-megawatt Darien Solar Energy Center has officially begun operations.

📋 RFP Opportunities

Illinois

• Illinois Power Agency BEC RFP Part 1 Window Open

  • The Part 1 Window for the Block Energy and Capacity Request for Proposals (BEC RFP) is now open. Proposals are due through the BEC RFP site by 12pm on Monday, 3/17.

Iowa

• Grow Solar Jasper + Poweshiek Counties 2025 RFP Announcement

  • The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is seeking proposals for the design, procurement, and installation of new residential and small commercial solar systems as part of a bulk purchasing effort to lower prices. Proposals are due 3/12.

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

• 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

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 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

• Grow Solar Wisconsin 2025 RFPs

  • The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has issued two separate proposals, in La Crosse County and Milwaukee + Waukesha Counties, for the design, procurement, and installation of new residential and small commercial PV systems as part of a bulk purchasing effort to lower prices. The MREA will hold six free information sessions. Proposals are due by 3/13 and 3/14, respectively.

📢 Policy & Program Updates

Georgia

• HB 249- Solar power facility agreements; revise provisions

  • Would require certification by the Department of Natural Resources that solar facility agreements meet certain requirements and lay out civil penalties for not meeting requirements.

  • Introduced 2/4, withdrawn and reintroduced with amendments 2/24.

  • UPDATE- amended bill passed Committee review on 3/6.

Illinois

• HB2902- UTL- BOARD ELECT PLANNING

  • Provides that beginning on November 1, 2025, and every 3 years thereafter on November 1, all electric co-operatives, municipal power agencies, and municipalities shall file an integrated resource plan with the Illinois Power Agency.

  • AKA Municipal and Cooperative Electric Utility Planning and Transparency Act.

  • Introduced in House 2/6. Assigned to Rules Committee.

  • UPDATE- assigned to House Public Utilities Committee 3/4.

• HB2810- AGRICULTURE IMPACT MITIGATION

  • Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to temporarily halt construction or other activities on a project upon a finding of noncompliance with an agricultural impact mitigation agreement.

  • Introduced in House 2/6, assigned to Rules Committee.

  • UPDATE- assigned to House Energy & Environment Committee 3/4.

• SB2437- UTL- TIME-OF-USE PRICING

  • Ties in with the Municipal and Cooperative Electric Utility Planning and Transparency Act.

  • Increases annual cumulative savings goals for utilities with five hundred thousand to three million subscribers.

  • Provides that an utility that has a tariff approved within one year of the Act’s passage shall also offer at least one market-based, time-of-use rate for eligible retail customers.

  • Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Assignments Committee.

  • UPDATE- assigned to Senate Energy Committee on 3/4.

• SB2387- AGRICULTURAL LAND CONSERVATION ACT

  • Would pay lessees for any agricultural land removed from production to develop a solar farm.

  • Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Assignments Committee.

  • UPDATE- assigned to Appropriations Committee 3/4.

• HB 3499/SB 2310- NET ELECTRICITY METERING

  • Promotes community generation, cost standardization for interconnection, and net metering.

  • Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Assignments Committee.

  • UPDATE- assigned to Senate Energy Committee 3/4.

Maryland

• HB0061- Public School Construction and Renovation - Solar Canopies for School Parking Lots - Underground Infrastructure

  • Establishes requirements for solar canopy projects on school parking lots, specifically establishing requirements for underground power infrastructure.

  • Introduced in House 1/8.

  • House hearing held 1/28 at 1:00pm.

  • UPDATE- Passed House Committee review 21-2-1 with amendments on 3/10.

• HB1233/SB1022- Community Solar- Subscription Eligibility

  • Allows LMI subscribers to subscribe to a community solar project located in a different electric service territory from their own; requires the Public Service Commission to establish a process for exchanging community solar bill credits between systems in different electric service areas.

  • Introduced 2/07, referred to House Economic Matters Committee. Hearing scheduled for 2/21.

  • UPDATE- Senate hearing cancelled.

• HB0739/SB0478- Solar Energy Generating Systems- Local Approval

  • Prohibits the Public Service Commission from approving a CPCN for a solar energy project unless the Commission receives written approval for the construction of the generating station from each county or municipal corporation where the generating station is proposed.

  • Introduced 1/23.

  • UPDATE- Senate/House hearings held 3/6. No vote held.

• HB0742/SB0640- Solar Energy Generating Systems- Eminent Domain

  • Prohibits a person constructing a solar energy generating station from exercising a right of condemnation in connection with that construction.

  • Introduced 1/27.

  • UPDATE- Senate/House hearings held 3/6. No vote held.

• SB0908/HB1225- Affordable Grid Act

  • Requires electric companies to develop an electric system distribution plan every 3 years and provide the Public Service Commission with annual progress reports.

  • Introduced 2/3.

  • UPDATE- Senate hearing held 3/6. No vote held.

• SB0983/HB0827- Solar Energy - Distributed Generation Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Ground-Mounted Solar, and Small Solar Siting Workgroup

  • Establishes a CPCN to authorize the construction and operation of “a certain distributed solar energy generating system”. Prohibits a county from enacting certain zoning laws or adopting certain regulations regarding certain ground-mounted solar systems and facilities.

  • Introduced 1/29.

  • UPDATE- Senate hearing held 3/6. No vote held.

• HB1396/SB0737- Property Rights Protection Act of 2025

  • Prohibits condemnation of property to construct a power line or a solar/wind project.

  • Republican sponsored.

  • Introduced in the Senate 1/31, House 2/7.

  • UPDATE- House hearing held 3/6. No vote held. Senate hearing scheduled for 3/11.

Missouri

• HB 440- Solar Taxation

  • Increases tax rate on agricultural landowners participating in solar projects, equal to $2500 per megawatt of nameplate capacity.

  • Introduced 1/8.

  • UPDATE- Passed Committee review 9-0 on 3/6.

• HB 662/SB 386- Community Solar Pilot Program

  • Creates a 3-year community solar pilot program beginning in 2026.

  • Introduced 1/8.

  • Update- Senate Energy Committee hearing to be held 3/11.

• SB4- Solar Systems as Tangible Personal Property

  • This act provides that the definition of "tangible personal property", for the purposes of taxation, include solar panels and related equipment in connection with solar photovoltaic energy systems that were constructed and producing solar energy prior to August 9, 2022.

  • Introduced 1/8. Passed Senate 2/25.

  • UPDATE- House hearing held 3/10.

• HB440- Solar Energy Projects

  • Beginning January 1, 2026, for purposes of assessing real property, excluding land, or tangible personal property associated with a project that uses solar energy directly to generate electricity, the tax liability will be equal to $2500 per megawatt of nameplate capacity.

  • Introduced 1/8.

  • UPDATE- Passed House Committee review 9-0 on 3/6.

Ohio

• SB2- Increase Power Generation

  • Aims to improve Ohio's electric grid by increasing power generation and making it more affordable and reliable. Includes provisions that support self-generation and self-power systems. Ends certain generation subsidies.

  • Introduced 1/22.

  • UPDATE- 5th hearing to be held 3/11.

• HB15- Amend competitive retail electric service law

  • Ends subsidies for utility-scale solar energy projects as well as ratepayer funding of coal power plants. Also prohibits distribution company ownership of generation assets.

  • Introduced 1/23.

  • UPDATE- 4th hearing to be held 3/12.

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