Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025
The Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025 would mandate the Department of Energy to create a program aimed at expanding participation in community solar programs and ensuring that subscribers receive the associated benefits. The bill would redefine and incorporate “community solar” into federal policy, require utilities (including tribal utilities) to offer accessible programs, and empower state and local governments through technical assistance and support for innovative financing and rate structures. It would also extend federal support for community solar through DOE grant/loan programs and modify federal contracting rules for public utility services to allow longer-term contracts (up to 30 years). Overall, the bill seeks to broaden access to solar benefits for individuals who lack onsite solar access, businesses, nonprofits, and governments, and to improve financing, data, and governance around community solar. The legislation would integrate community solar into the existing regulatory framework (PURPA 1978, section 111(d)), define key terms, set access standards, and impose defined compliance timelines on state regulators and utilities. It also emphasizes ownership flexibility to ensure benefits reach consumers and to mitigate market concentration effects, while harnessing National Laboratories for data and technical guidance.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a new DOE program (within 1 year of enactment) to increase access to community solar for individuals (especially those without onsite solar, including low- and moderate-income), businesses, nonprofits, and government entities, and to align with existing low-income federal programs.
- 2Amends PURPA section 111(d) by adding a new paragraph (22) on community solar programs, defining community solar facility, program, and subscriber, and requiring non-tribal utilities to offer equitable and demonstrable access to all ratepayers (including low-income), with tribal utilities having optional participation.
- 3Authorizes ownership flexibility in community solar programs, allowing utilities, non-utilities, or other entities to own all or part of facilities to deliver benefits and manage market concentration.
- 4Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance, guidance, and use National Laboratories to collect/disseminate data to assist financing, subscriptions, and operation of community solar.
- 5Expands DOE grant/loan/financing programs to include community solar, and requires the Secretary to align the program with federal low-income initiatives.
- 6Establishes compliance timelines: state regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities must begin consideration within 1 year and complete determinations within 2 years regarding the standard for community solar access.
- 7Extends federal contracting flexibility by allowing public utility contracts for federal services to run up to 30 years.