The Solar Policy Scoop: May 2025

Pennsylvania takes another shot at community solar bill
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced HB 1155, a bill that would authorize community solar programs across the state. The new bill closely mirrors legislation passed through the House in 2024 with strong bipartisan support.

Community solar pilot program doesn’t make it into final Ohio energy bill
Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio legislature sent the final version of an energy overhaul bill to the governor’s desk, which would add some consumer energy protections after the disastrous scandal of former law HB 6. An earlier version of the bill included a community energy pilot program that would have included solar, but that provision did not make it to the final legislation.

Washington state’s new solar panel recycling requirements set to begin in 2030
Olympia, Washington

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law that will amend the state’s previous solar panel recycling rules to make them more attainable for manufacturers and solar owners. It mandates that manufacturers finance the take back and recycling system and submit a stewardship plan by January 31, 2030.

Idaho Power seeks to slash rooftop solar compensation by more than 60%
Boise, Idaho 

Idaho Power filed a new application with the public utilities commission to decrease the compensation rooftop solar owners receive for the excess electricity they send to the grid by more than 60%. If approved, these new rates would take effect June 1, right as Idaho enters peak solar season.

Clean energy advocates demand overhaul of Illinois storage report
Springfield, Illinois

Illinois clean energy trade associations called for the Illinois Commerce Commission’s consultant to make critical revisions to its upcoming report on clean energy storage procurement. The groups say the early draft recommends only about half the amount of storage set forth in recent legislation.

Minnesota energy omnibus bill would repeal Community Solar Garden program
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Clean energy and climate activists are asking lawmakers to reject Minnesota’s current Senate Energy Omnibus Bill. The bill would repeal the state’s Community Solar Garden program, weaken net-metering and exempt large data centers like from key environmental reviews.

New letter from GOP senators adds to pressure campaign to preserve the IRA
Washington, D.C. 

As the budget reconciliation process continues, four additional Republican congressmembers penned a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune asking him to protect the IRA. The April letter followed a similar March letter to the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means signed by 21 Republican representatives.

Four Republican representatives propose phase-out of ITC for solar and wind
Washington, D.C. 

Yet another GOP foursome, this one led by Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), has introduced legislation to phase out the PTC and ITC for wind and solar energy over the next five years. The bill focuses on “intermittent energy subsidies,” and would not apply to other technologies like nuclear, hydropower and geothermal.

Federal judges order IRA funds to flow immediately
Washington, D.C. 

In mid-April, two federal judges — one appointed by President Trump — separately ruled that the EPA unlawfully terminated billions of dollars in climate grants, including the $7 billion Solar for All grant program. Six nonprofit organizations that were unable to access EPA-administered funds filed suit against the EPA and other government agencies.

Commerce reveals final tariff amounts on Southeast Asian solar imports
Washington, D.C. 

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce released its final tariff amounts on solar cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The tariffs would go into effect only if the U.S. International Trade Commission makes a final determination by June 2 that the domestic panel manufacturing industry was harmed by dumped and subsidized imports from the Southeast Asian countries.