Spark Alerts: May 2, 2025

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

May 02, 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

Illinois

  • 4/30- Coal City Solar submitted a conservation plan for three solar arrays totaling 15 MW, located in endangered species territory in Grundy County.

Iowa

  • 4/30- Cherokee County commissioners are pushing for new regulations to increase acreage caps for utility-scale solar.

  • 4/30- Lee County voted to hold a second reading of a new ordinance regulating utility-scale solar.

Maryland

Michigan

  • 5/1- Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources identified 1,000 acres of state forest as suitable for state solar installations.

  • 4/29- The Jamestown Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on 5/20 to consider ordinance amendments regulating solar in the township.

Ohio

  • 4/30- HB15, which would repeal coal subsidies, redirect some existing solar subsidies to fund school clean energy projects, and create a community energy program using multiple energy sources, overwhelmingly passed in the state legislature.

  • 4/30- A pair of nonprofit reports found that local movement has been a consistent driver of renewable energy projects, often more so than state action.

Pennsylvania

  • 4/30- Pittsburgh International Airport announced plans to double its solar capacity on its local microgrid, adding 4.7 MW on a former landfill site in partnership with IMG.

Wisconsin

  • 5/1- Grant County is developing new regulations for small and large-scale solar, including agricultural restrictions.

  • 5/1- The Village of Yorkville proposed a draft zoning ordinance for solar facilities in village bounds.

  • 5/1- Marathon County approved a new solar ordinance for the Town of Ringle, after ordering in February that the Town rewrite an earlier draft ordinance to be less restrictive.

  • 4/29- Municipalities including Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Waukesha launched the 2025 Grow Solar program, a group purchasing initiative primarily targeting residential and small commercial solar.

  • 4/29- Proposed new rules by Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources may prevent solar farms from participating in water quality credit trading programs.

📋 RFP Opportunities

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

  • Maryland Solar For All has indicated that it will soon open its selection process for low-income solar contractors, and has opened an RFP for a grant management specialist.

  • Misc

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

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.

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

Michigan

  • HB4028

    • Repeals legislation that removes local control over wind and solar siting.

    • Introduced in House 1/28.

    • UPDATE- Passed House on 4/30.

      • Likely to die in the majority-Democratic Senate.

Missouri

  • HB662

    • Creates a community solar program

    • Introduced in House 1/8.

    • UPDATE- House Legislative Committee recommended passage on a 9-0 vote on 4/29.

      • Missouri’s legislative session ends on 5/16th, so it is unlikely that the bill will pass both the full House and Senate before then. However, this bill has now received two positive committee reviews, which could lend strong support for a reintroduced bill in the next legislative session.

Ohio

  • HB15

    • Repeals state solar and coal subsidies. Also establishes a community energy pilot program- effectively a community solar program using other energy sources as well as solar.

    • Introduced 1/23, passed House 3/26.

    • UPDATE- Passed Senate with amendments 33-0 on 4/30. Re-passed House. Will move to Governor.

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