Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to community solar programs by directing the Secretary of Energy to create a federal program that grows participation for people without onsite solar and for low- and moderate-income households. It would pair technical help, financing support, and standardized rules to make community solar easier to join and finance for a wide range of participants.
Show full summary
- Low- and moderate-income households and people lacking rooftop solar would get targeted technical assistance and alignment with existing federal low-income energy programs to improve access and subscription options.
- State, local, and Tribal governments, nonprofits, businesses, and developers would receive technical assistance, new financing and business-model support, and data from National Laboratories to help design, finance, and operate community solar projects.
- Utilities and regulators would face a new framework under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 for pricing, allocation, and ownership options, plus a required timetable for state review. The bill would also limit public utility service contracts for public works to no more than 30 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Utilities must offer community solar options
If enacted, most electric utilities would need to offer a community solar program. Programs would have to give fair access, including for low‑income customers. Utilities or other groups could own part or all of projects to share benefits and avoid concentration. State regulators would need to start a case within 1 year and decide within 2 years; Tribal utilities could opt in. The Department of Energy would also set up a support program within 1 year to give technical help, expand grants and loans, align with low‑income programs, and use national labs to share data.
30-year limit on federal utility contracts
If enacted, federal agencies could not sign public utility service contracts longer than 30 years. This would change how agencies and contractors plan long‑term utility deals. It mainly affects companies that sell utility services to the government.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov