Legislation6 days ago
50
To authorize implementation grants to community-based nonprofits to operate one-stop reentry centers.
HR8548Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA)
introduced
S2182119th CongressWALLET
Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would require the Department of Energy to create a national program to _expand access to community solar_ for households and public entities that lack regular onsite solar. It sets national standards, data and technical assistance, and opens DOE grant, loan, and financing tools to speed community solar development.
Show full summary
- Low- and moderate-income households and people without rooftop solar would get prioritized access to subscriptions and affordable rate options aligned with existing federal low-income programs.
- States, Tribal governments, and localities would receive DOE technical assistance and National Laboratory data to design programs and test new financing and business models.
- Non-tribal utilities would be required to offer community solar programs with equitable access, and regulators and nonregulated utilities would have 1 year to begin and 2 years to finish formal consideration. The bill also allows utilities, subscribers, or third parties to own projects and limits federal public utility contracts to a maximum of 30 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal community solar rules and deadlines
If enacted, the bill would add legal definitions for a community solar facility, program, and subscriber. States and nonregulated utilities would have to start considering the federal community solar standard within 1 year and finish decisions within 2 years. The bill would make clear which enactment date controls enforcement for that standard. States that already implemented or were actively considering similar rules before enactment would be exempt from some federal requirements.
Utilities must offer community solar
If enacted, each non‑Tribal electric utility would have to offer a community solar program that gives fair access to all ratepayers, including low‑income customers. Tribal utilities could choose to offer a program and use Act resources. The bill would also let utilities, non‑utility groups, or subscribers partly or fully own community solar projects when needed to deliver customer benefits or address market concentration. This could expand subscription options but ownership rules might affect competition and prices.
Federal program to expand community solar
If enacted, the Secretary of Energy would have 1 year to set up a program to expand access to community solar for people, businesses, nonprofits, and governments. The program would focus on people without on‑site solar and low‑ and moderate‑income households. DOE would provide technical help to states, tribes, and local governments, use National Laboratories to collect and share data, and, where practicable, expand DOE grants, loans, and financing to include community solar.
Cap federal utility contract length
If enacted, the bill would limit federal public utility services contracts to no more than 30 years. Companies could not sign federal utility contracts longer than 30 years.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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