Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • SPW State News Hub
      • IRA coverage
      • Solar tariffs
      • U.S. manufacturing updates
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • The Solar Policy Scoop
    • IRA Coverage
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • Winners of SPW’s 2024 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Electric Vehicle (EV)
    • Inverters
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
    • Racking and Mounting
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Montana legislature greenlights community solar program

By Kelsey Misbrener | June 4, 2025

Share

Following the overwhelming passage of SB 188, bipartisan legislation that will create a Solar Shares program, the Montana Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) jointly issued a letter committing to work hand-in-hand with regulators and lawmakers to put limits on a program that will deliver local energy, economic benefits and reliability for Montana families and businesses.

The letter, sent this week to the Montana Public Services Commission, highlights the industry’s strong voluntary commitment to put specific parameters on the Solar Shares program that fit the unique needs of Montana and which are based on feedback received throughout the legislative process. According to the letter, the industry will advocate for the following proactive commitments:

  • Bill credits that are based on grid value only;
  • Utilities should be compensated for distribution service costs to ensure they are compensated for existing infrastructure;
  • Developers will pay all interconnection costs and system upgrades that are needed to interconnect facilities; and
  • Cap the size of the program at a target 100 MW over the next three years to ensure managed growth.

“As stated in our letter, we are committed to working with all stakeholders to do what’s best for Montanans: expanding access to affordable, locally generated energy,” said Jeff Cramer, CEO and President of CCSA. “By providing these commitments to the Commission, we are adding another layer of protection for the state to derisk and build upon what is already a strong, bipartisan piece of legislation, and encourage the Governor to sign it into law.”

The Solar Shares program, recently approved by the Montana Legislature through SB 188 with strong bipartisan support, reflects growing demand for locally generated, affordable energy. With overwhelming votes in both chambers, the bill affirms Montanans’ desire for practical, cost-effective solutions that benefit families, small businesses and communities across the state.

“Solar Shares is a Montana-grown energy solution that can provide power locally, keep transmission costs down, and increase our grid reliability without any state subsidies,” said Brad Van Wert, President of MREA. “A pro-small business Governor and state would benefit immensely from this program.”

The Solar Shares program, if capped at 100 MW for the first three years, is projected to generate $280 million in economic impact, 1,200 local jobs and provide direct savings to a wide array of families and small businesses across the state. Additionally, these projects could be paired with localized storage to smooth out intermittency, ensure stable power delivery during peak demand periods and in variable weather conditions.

The bill is now on Gov. Greg Gianforte’s desk.

News item from the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA)

About The Author

Kelsey Misbrener

Kelsey Misbrener is currently managing editor of Solar Power World and has been reporting on policy, technology and other areas of the U.S. solar market since 2017.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

Mayfield Renewables announces 2025 Education Summit in Seattle
Yaskawa America to invest $180 million in Wisconsin manufacturing plant
Nexamp cuts ribbon on first “Community-Driven Community Solar” project in Illinois
San José Clean Energy expands Solar Access Program to more than 200 new customers
Solar Power World Digital Edition
Check in with the nation's leading solar construction magazine today.
 
“the-informed-solar-installer”
“solar
“spw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Solar Power Professionals.

Contractor’s Corner Podcast

“solar
Solar Power World
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar Articles
  • Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Leadership
  • About/Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • WTWH Media

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • SPW State News Hub
      • IRA coverage
      • Solar tariffs
      • U.S. manufacturing updates
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • The Solar Policy Scoop
    • IRA Coverage
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • Winners of SPW’s 2024 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Electric Vehicle (EV)
    • Inverters
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
    • Racking and Mounting
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar inverter manufacturers
      • U.S. solar mounting manufacturers
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Voices
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe