Spark Alerts: May 6, 2025

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

May 06, 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

  • 5/5- Nexamp announced it will develop a portfolio of roughly 100 new projects across the U.S. as part of a long-term agreement with Microsoft.

📰 Market & Development News

📢 Policy & Programs

  • SB2473

    • Provides that, by 11/1/25, all electric cooperatives, municipal power agencies, and municipalities shall file an integrated resource plan.

    • Introduced in Senate 2/7, referred to Assignments Committee.

    • UPDATE- Senate proposed amendments 5/5.

East Coast: MD, NY, PA, VA

📰 Market & Development News

Maryland

  • 5/6- The Montgomery County Council is set to approve a letter to the Public Service Commission regarding Chaberton Solar's application to build a 3.0 MW solar array.

  • 5/5- Baltimore County is continuing to discuss two zoning amendments: banning solar on prime farmland and banning solar farms from being within 1,000 ft of each other.

  • 5/5- Caroline County narrowly approved a SUP request for a 2.0-MW solar facility by Preston Community Energy Initiative LLC.

New York

Pennsylvania

  • 5/5- Adams Township discussed extending their solar moratorium, and will hold a vote in the near future.

Virginia

  • 5/5- Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have tripled state utilities’ battery storage procurement targets.

  • 5/4- Lunenburg County is set to consider new solar amendments setting new rules for approval, height/setback requirements, and banning solar from “within 2 miles of a town”.

  • 5/2- Construction is underway on Dominion Energy’s 13.5-acre solar project on a landfill in Albemarle County.

📢 Policy & Programs

Pennsylvania

  • SB349

    • Sets requirements for solar facility decommissioning and financial assurance.

    • Introduced in Senate 3/24, sent to Energy Committee.

    • UPDATE- Re-reported on 5/5, sent to Appropriations Committee

  • HB504

    • Establishes a community solar program.

    • Introduced in House 4/23. Tabled on 5/2.

    • UPDATE- Removed from table, putting the bill back up for discussion, on 5/5.

Virginia

  • Governor Glenn Youngkin signed into law several bills on 5/2, including:

    • SB1192- Allows for solar projects adjacent to public schools to count towards low-income RPS requirements.

    • HB1821- Permits an accelerated renewable energy buyer to contract to obtain bundled capacity, energy, and RECs, and to offset capacity needs through the procurement of energy storage.

  • Governor Glenn Youngkin also vetoed several bills on 5/2, including:

    • SB1394- Triples energy storage capacity procurement requirements for state utilities.

    • SB1040- Amends Dominion Energy PPA requirements, including for BTM solar. Prioritizes non-farmland siting for solar.

📋 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

  • 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

  • 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

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