Spark Alerts: May 13, 2025

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

May 13, 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

  • 5/13- The US House is set to vote today on an Energy Committee proposal to repeal $6.5 billion from IRA funding. The vote will not approve the bill, but would set it on a path for approval.

  • 5/12- The US House Ways & Means Committee released a tax credit proposal that would effectively act as a repeal of the IRA. This, in addition to other proposed committee cuts, would require full House approval before being approved as a final budget.

  • 5/12- Per a newly passed state law, Virginia’s Dominion Energy has until December to propose a virtual power plant pilot program. Several similar programs have been proposed in other states.

Illinois

  • 5/12- Advocates are pushing Illinois lawmakers to pass a bill to incentivize energy storage before the legislative session ends on 5/31.

  • 5/10- Union County discussed a new draft ordinance setting guidelines on solar permitting, insurance, and other requirements, with special consideration for agricultural land, wildlife, and local traffic.

  • 5/9- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued recommendations for the state’s first energy storage procurement program. The program would target 1,038 MW of storage, with procured facilities being at least 20 MW in size and active in the interconnection queue. The program has not yet been approved.

  • 5/9- Donato Solar submitted a proposal for a community solar array in Champaign County, and is currently the only applicant in the county.

Iowa

  • 5/12- Henry County proposed several changes to its proposed wind and solar ordinance, including a requirement for developers to maintain a $5 million decommissioning escrow account. The regulations currently treat wind and solar extremely similarly, but edits are being discussed.

  • 5/9- A new draft ordinance by Cherokee County would increase setbacks by up to 13 times for solar projects, which stands to kill a proposed project by TED Renewables.

Maryland

  • 5/9- Rural counties are urging Governor Wes Moore not to sign the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, which would give more solar siting control to state regulators. The Governor has until May 27 to sign or veto the bill.

Michigan

  • 5/12- Consumers Energy began construction on its 2.5-MW community solar project in Blackman Township.

  • 5/9- Berrien County is collaborating with Michigan State University on a guidebook to assist local governments in designing solar regulations.

  • 5/9- A recent survey found Michigan residents overwhelmingly support solar on previously disturbed land and brownfields over forests or farmland.

Pennsylvania

  • 5/12- The Philadelphia City Council approved an agreement with the Philadelphia Energy Authority to contract with Abes Run Solar, LLC to purchase solar-generated electricity for city facilities.

  • 5/12- State Republicans are keeping $156 million in solar grants stagnant in the state legislature despite public demand for the funds.

Wisconsin

  • 5/8- The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin granted approval to Madison Gas and Electric to build a 20-MW solar array and 40-MW battery storage system in Fitchburg.

📋 RFP Opportunities & Incentives

Georgia

  • Georgia Power – 2029–2031 All-Source Capacity RFP

    • An all-source solicitation for new generation capacity (including utility-scale solar projects via PPAs or build-transfer) to meet Georgia Power’s needs in 2029–2031

    • The RFP was launched in 2024 and is accepting bidder registration and proposals via an Accion online portal. A full schedule and bid due dates will be announced in 2025.

  • Georgia Power – CARES 2025 Renewable RFP

    • A utility-scale renewables RFP under the Clean and Renewable Energy Subscription (CARES) program, targeting ~2,100 MW of new solar and wind capacity for commercial/industrial subscribers.

    • The 2025 CARES RFP is being issued in Q2 2025, with proposal submission anticipated later in 2025.

Illinois

Maryland

Michigan

  • MI Healthy Climate Challenge: Solar For Savings

    • Includes multiple funding rounds to support projects that help the state reach carbon neutrality.

    • First round of funding will offer $9 million in grants for residential and community solar projects. Entries are due by 5pm on 7/30. See this link for more information.

  • Consumers Energy 2025 RFP

    • A broad Request for Proposals announced by Consumers Energy to add new generation resources, including utility-scale solar projects (via PPA or build-transfer), to meet future capacity needs and supply its Green Pricing program.

    • The RFP process began with a bidder conference on 4/10, and proposal submission will occur through an online portal in mid-2025 (exact due date TBD).

  • Xcel Energy 2025 RFP

    • 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/Incentives

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

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.

  • Misc/Incentives

Pennsylvania

  • PA SEF Regenerative Energy RFP

    • 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

    • 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

📢 Policy & Program Updates

No major state policy updates.

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