Spark Alerts: May 23, 2025

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

May 23, 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

  • 5/20- The US House passed a tax bill that would phase out clean energy investment and production tax credits by 2028.

    • Notes: This is broadly bad news for the industry, and stands to impact residential and rooftop solar the hardest. The domestic manufacturing tax credit remains untouched, so solar manufacturing should continue unscathed.

    • While many House Republicans spoke out against the gutting of clean energy tax credits, none of them voted against the final bill.

    • It should also be noted that this bill passed very narrowly (215-214) and would still need to pass the Senate. It is likely to see rewrites at the Senate level before full passage, but it remains to be seen how much clean energy tax credits will be reworked.

    • Speaker Mike Johnson said he hopes for full bill passage by early July.

Illinois

  • 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.

Iowa

  • 5/21- Cherokee County supervisors lifted a proposed quarter-mile setback for solar after it was proposed in a new draft ordinance.

Michigan

  • 5/20- Jamestown Township held a hearing to amend its solar regulations, and held a site plan review for a BESS project by DC Storage.

Pennsylvania

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

Wisconsin

  • 5/21- An executive with Dairyland, an electric co-op, said pairing renewables with battery storage could deliver significant benefits for Dairyland’s territory.

📋 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- NEW

  • City of Lansing Onsite Solar PV Services

    • The City of Lansing posted a solicitation for onsite solar installation at a local facility. A pre-bid event will be held 6/4, with applications due by 6/16.

  • 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- 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.

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. An RFP will be issued on 6/22.

  • Misc

📢 Policy & Program Updates

Maryland

Michigan

  • Senate Republicans introduced two new bills on 5/21:

    • SB327: Sets requirements that a solar facility may not be classified as a permitted use on farmland after a previous solar project is decommissioned on the site.

    • SB322: Amends clean energy targets to favor energy waste reduction programs rather than renewables.

Pennsylvania

  • HB504

    • Creates a community solar program.

    • Passed House 5/7.

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

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