Spark Alerts: March 7, 2025

The latest Distributed Generation news, RFPs and program policy updates at your fingertips

March 07, 2025

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

  • Despite Delays, Canadian Energy Tariffs Likely to Remain in Place
    March 6, 2025: Donald Trump delayed tariffs on all USMCA goods for approximately one month on Thursday. However, energy from Canada does not fall under the USMCA, meaning a 10% tariff on Canadian electricity will remain in place. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced plans for a 25% tariff on electricity imported to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota beginning next week, and has threatened to cut off electricity supply entirely. Grid operators are bracing for electricity price spikes stemming from incoming tariffs on Canadian power, particularly in the Northeast and Upper Midwest.
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  • Trump Doubles Chinese Tariffs
    March 6, 2025: Donald Trump doubled a tariff on Chinese imports to 20% on Tuesday, meaning a likely price hike for clean energy system components as well as oil and gas.
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  • US Rep. Tiffany re-introduces bill to eliminate farm subsidy for solar projects
    March 4, 2025: U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has reintroduced legislation that would eliminate most subsidies for solar and wind energy projects on farm land- titled the Future Agricultural Retention and Management Act. The bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Georgia

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

Illinois

Iowa

Maryland

Michigan

Missouri

  • Stoddard County explores new tax strategies for solar projects after court ruling 
    AHJ: Stoddard County
    March 5, 2025: Stoddard County is facing new regulatory challenges regarding utility-scale solar projects, particularly after a recent court ruling ended a longstanding property tax exemption. The county commissioners are exploring alternative financial strategies to attract solar developments, such as utilizing Chapter 100, which allows the county to issue revenue bonds.

Ohio

Pennsylvania

  • Four PA Counties Move to Activate 100% Renewable Energy Purchasing
    AHJ: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery
    March 3, 2025: The four counties listed above, collectively known as the Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeast PA (SEP), have announced plans to procure 100% of their electricity from renewables by 2035. The SEP is actively seeking new members

Wisconsin

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

📋 RFP Opportunities

Illinois

  • BEC RFP Webcast

    • A bidder information webcast for the IPA’s 2025 Block Energy Capacity RFP will be held on 3/7 at 2:00 PM Central and is open to all prospective bidders. The final procurement rules have been posted online.

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

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

Illinois

  • HB3779/SB2473- MUNICIPAL AND COOPERATIVE ELECTRIC UTILITY PLANNING AND TRANSPARENCY ACT

    • 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.

    • Among other changes, mandates renewable power to be used to power 100% of new data centers in the state.

    • Introduced in House 2/18.

    • UPDATE- sister bill introduced in Senate 3/4, referred to Energy Committee.

  • HB1834- SELF-DIRECT ENERGY CREDITS

    • Would remove the requirement for the Illinois Power Agency to annually determine the amount of utility-scale RECs it will include each year from the self-direct RPS compliance program. Provides that the self-direct credit amount for each REC supplied shall be…equal to the volumetric charge collected under a provision in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the approved self-direct credit amount shall be multiplied by each REC procured by participating customers for up to 100% of the customer's annual consumption.

    • Introduced 1/29. Referred to Public Utilities Committee on 2/25.

    • UPDATE- Committee hearing TBH 3/11 at 2:00pm.

  • SB2387- AGRICULTURAL LAND CONSERVATION ACT

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

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

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

Iowa

  • SF 376- Renewable Siting

    • Encourages the development of renewable energy. Gives state more jurisdiction over local ruling.

    • Introduced 2/19, referred to Commerce Committee.

    • 2/28- Subcommittee meeting on bill included strong local opposition.

    • UPDATE- Subcommittee recommended passage on 3/4.

Maryland

Missouri

  • HB 662/SB 386- Community Solar Pilot Program

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

    • Introduced 1/8, second reading 1/9.

    • UPDATE- House hearing to be held 3/10 at 4:30pm.

  • HB 440- Solar Taxation

    • Tax liability for a solar project will be equal to $2500 per megawatt of nameplate capacity. All land associated with the project will be assessed as commercial property.

    • Introduced 1/8.

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

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