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- Spark Alerts: March 25, 2025
Spark Alerts: March 25, 2025
The latest solar news and program policy updates at your fingertips
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
3/24- Montgomery County held a public hearing on Apex Energy’s 5-MW project on agricultural land.
3/20- Microsoft signed a deal with AES for three solar projects in IL, MI, and MO.
3/20- After five years of the Illinois Solar For All program, a new report found the state has added over 33 GWh per year*.
Texas
3/24- The Texas Senate passed a bill that would require 50% of new generation capacity to be sourced from DG “other than battery energy storage”, which is expected to spur the gas market. The bill now heads to the House.
3/23- Leeward Renewable Energy secured $280 million in funding for a 200-MW project in Frio County.
3/20- A newly released ERCOT nodal market outlook report highlights a projected shift towards renewable energy and battery storage.
📢 Policy & Programs
Illinois
Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, a fee shall be paid by the buyer or lessee in a transaction for any agricultural land that will be removed from production for the specific purpose to develop solar.
Introduced in Senate 2/7.
UPDATE- Public Utilities Committee review deadline set for 4/21.
Reduces barriers to utility-scale solar projects, notably transmission.
Introduced in Senate 2/7.
UPDATE- Public Utilities Committee review deadline set for 4/4.
Amends the definition of “renewable energy” to include small modular nuclear.
Introduced in Senate 2/4.
UPDATE- Assigned to Public Utilities Committee 3/18, deadline set for 4/11.
Provides that leases of solar energy systems are exempt from the taxes imposed under the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.
Introduced in Senate 2/4.
UPDATE- Assigned to Revenue Committee 3/18, deadline set for 4/11.
Would set 15-GW energy storage target and set up a state VPP program.
Introduced in Senate 2/7, House 2/18.
UPDATE- Senate Public Utilities Committee review deadline set for 4/4.
Among other changes, removes the requirement for the Illinois Power Agency to annually determine the amount of utility-scale renewable energy credits to be included in the self-direct RPS compliance program.
Introduced in House 2/6, Senate 1/29.
UPDATE- Senate Public Utilities Committee review deadline set for 4/4.
Provides that post-award renegotiation of competitive REC prices shall be allowed only in cases where it is necessary to ensure the successful development of the renewable energy project based on unforeseeable circumstances.
Introduced In Senate 2/6.
UPDATE- Senate Public Utilities Committee review deadline set for 4/4.
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 in House 1/29, Senate 2/7.
UPDATE- Senate Public Utilities Committee review deadline set for 4/4.
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, Senate 3/4.
UPDATE- Senate Public Utilities Committee review deadline set for 4/4.
Texas
Mandates that 50% of new power plant capacity be sourced from capacity other than battery storage.
Introduced in Senate 2/3
UPDATE- Passed Senate 31-0, moved to House.
HB3229/SB2659- Renewable Recycling
Lays out regulations and requirements for recycling of renewable system components.
Filed in House 2/24, Senate 3/13.
UPDATE- First House reading 3/20, public hearing TBH 3/27.
HB3228/SB2657- Solar Recycling
Mandates inclusion of certain recycling/disposal provisions in wind and solar lease agreements.
Filed in House 2/24, Senate 3/13
UPDATE- First House reading 3/20, public hearing TBH 3/26.
Imposes a franchise tax on solar/wind energy producers with a capacity over 1MW, equal to the amount of the project’s total federal benefits.
Filed in House 2/19.
UPDATE- First reading 3/20, referred to Ways & Means Committee.
HB3056- Wind/Solar Adjacent Property
A municipality or county by order shall prohibit the installation of a wind or solar power facility within 500 yards of property owned by a different person unless the owner or operator of the proposed facility obtains written consent from each owner of said adjacent property.
Filed in House 2/19.
UPDATE- First reading 3/20, referred to State Affairs Committee.
Establishes a study by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on solar and wind’s environmental, economic, and infrastructure implications.
Filed in House 2/25.
UPDATE- First reading 3/20, referred to State Affairs Committee.
Exempts certain transactions, including sale or lease of a solar property, from regulation by the TX Real Estate Commission.
Filed in House 2/3, filed in Senate 2/7.
UPDATE- Bill reported favorably in Senate committee 3/19.
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