Spark Alerts: May 23, 2025

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

May 23, 2025

Note: This is a proof of concept for Spark Alerts, focusing on Illinois community solar, then on New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Please help us improve by sharing your feedback with us!

Illinois Community Solar

  • 5/23- Summit Ridge Energy is building a 5-MW project in northern Illinois to provide power for data center operator Digital Reality.

  • 5/22- Montgomery County held a public hearing to discuss Pivot Energy’s 2.6-MW CF IL Solar project.

  • 5/22- Champaign County held additional hearings on its proposed BESS ordinance, laying out conditions for their use in agricultural districts.

  • 5/21- The town of Waukegan used an energy consulting firm to help secure local community solar subscriptions.

  • 5/21- DeKalb County approved a SUP for a 4.99-MW project by TurningPoint Energy.

📰 Market & Development News

📢 Policy & Programs

  • No community solar policy updates.

East Coast: MD, NY, PA, VA

📰 Market & Development News

New York

  • 5/22- Chemung County heard ordinance proposals from two townships: a new BESS ordinance in the Town of Chemung and new solar regulations in the Town of Veteran.

  • 5/21- Governor Kathy Hochul announced that contracts have been executed for 26 large-scale renewable projects totaling 2.57 GW, with about 2.2 GW coming from solar.

  • 5/21- The NY DPS will hold a public comment hearing on 5/28 for a 250-MW ConnectGen project in Montgomery County.

  • 5/21- Boralex announced the signing of contracts for two projects in Franklin and St Lawrence Counties, totalling 450 MW.

Pennsylvania

  • 5/20- PA awarded $22.5 million in grants to 73 schools across the state to help pay for solar installations.

  • 5/20- Carbon County mandated detailed stormwater management and fire safety plans after an unnamed solar project’s application was deemed incomplete.

Virginia

  • 5/22- Middlesex County announced a public hearing on 6/3 to discuss a special exception for a 20-MW project by CI Renewables.

  • 5/20- Urban Grid announced the launch of its first solar apiary in Halifax County.

  • 5/20- Scott County’s Planning Commission recommended SUP approval for a community solar project by SynerGen after previously rejecting it.

📢 Policy & Programs

Maryland

New York

  • SB4272

    • Provides for direct-pay tax abatement credits for solar and storage systems in connection with eligible buildings (nonprofits and low-income properties).

    • Introduced in Senate 2/3.

    • UPDATE- Referred to Energy Committee 5/20.

Pennsylvania

  • HB504

    • Creates a community solar program.

    • Passed House 5/7.

    • UPDATE- introduced in Senate Consumer Protection Committee 5/22.

📋 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

New York

  • Bronx Multi-Site Solar Development RFP

    • RFP for a developer to design, finance, install, own, operate, repair, maintain, and decommission roof-mounted and/or carport-mounted solar systems on three NYCEDC-leased sites in the Bronx, totaling roughly 2.5 MW. Proposals are due by Thursday, 7/24.

  • City of Rochester – Municipal Facilities Solar PPA RFP

    • Rochester, NY is seeking a solar developer to finance, design, own, and operate PV systems on several large city facilities (arena, convention center, public safety building), with the City purchasing the energy via a long-term power purchase agreement.

    • Proposals are due by Friday, 6/6.

  • Grid Enhancing Technologies Program

    • A $12 million grant administered by NYSERDA for development projects or research studies to enable a high-performing grid and transform the delivery of clean, renewable energy resources. The maximum grant per project is $3 million. Applications are due by 7/15.

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- NEW

  • PECO Solar RFP

    • Electric utility PECO seeks 10-year fixed-price PPAs for projects with a minimum size of 5 MW with permission to operate by 5/31/2029. Applications are due by 8/6, with a webinar to be held on 6/11.

  • Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) Program

    • The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) is accepting applications for its Medium- and Large-scale Award Tracks under the Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) Program, with an application deadline of 8/29.

  • 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.

Virginia

  • Appalachian Power – 2025 Solar/Wind/Storage RFP

    • Appalachian Power is soliciting up to 800 MW of new solar (and/or wind) projects – which the utility may acquire outright – and up to 300 MW via power purchase agreements, as well as associated renewable energy certificates, to help meet its clean energy targets. Proposals are due by 7/15.

  • Dominion Energy Virginia – 2025 Solar & Storage Development RFP

    • Dominion Energy Virginia has an open RFP for new solar projects – including large utility-scale and distributed projects – along with battery storage, to be utility-owned. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.

  • Middlesex County Solar Lease

    • Middlesex County, Virginia seeks proposals from developers to lease and build solar on a 60-acre landfill or an adjacent 34 acres of County-owned land. Proposals will be accepted until Friday, 6/6.

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

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