S. 2182: Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025

The Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025 aims to enhance participation in community solar programs across the United States, particularly for individuals and groups with limited access to onsite solar energy generation. Here’s a summary of the main provisions of the bill:

Establishment of Community Solar Programs

The bill mandates the Secretary of Energy to establish a program within one year of its enactment to:

• Increase access to community solar programs for:
• Individuals, especially those without regular access to onsite solar, including low- and moderate-income individuals.
• Businesses.
• Nonprofit organizations.
• State, local, and Tribal governments.

The program will align with existing federal initiatives aimed at low-income communities, ensuring that financial and technical assistance is available to state and local entities to enhance access to these community solar options.

Participation and Benefits

The Act outlines that community solar programs allow participants (referred to as subscribers) to use electricity generated from community solar facilities to offset their utility bills. This program is designed to give equitable access to various participants in the energy market, promoting affordability and competition.

Federal Government's Role

The bill seeks to expand existing grants, loans, and financing programs by including community solar initiatives. This will help to provide necessary funding and support for community solar facilities.

Regulatory Compliance and Time Frames

State regulatory authorities and nonregulated electric utilities will need to comply with the established standards for community solar programs within specific time frames:

• Consideration of the standard must commence within one year of the bill's enactment.
• Completion of this consideration must occur within two years.

Additionally, in cases where states have already taken steps toward implementing similar standards before this bill’s enactment, they might be exempt from some of these requirements.

Ownership and Operation

The bill includes provisions to allow various entities—electric utilities, third parties, or groups of subscribers—to own all or part of community solar facilities to ensure the delivery of benefits to consumers. This flexibility aims to enhance participation and operational efficiency.

Technical Assistance

The Secretary of Energy will also provide technical guidance to state and local governments, assisting them in the effective implementation and management of community solar programs, including the development of innovative financial models to better serve subscribers.

Definitions and Framework

The bill defines key terms such as:

• A community solar facility as a solar photovoltaic system that allocates electricity to multiple consumers and is connected to the utility's infrastructure.
• A community solar program as a service that allows electric consumers to offset utility charges through the electricity generated by a community solar facility.
• A subscriber as an electric consumer who participates in a community solar program.

Federal Contracts for Utility Services

The legislation amends existing laws regarding federal contracts for public utility services, allowing contracts of up to 30 years.

Relevant Companies

• NEE (NextEra Energy): As a significant player in renewable energy, NextEra Energy may engage in community solar program offerings as outlined in the bill.
• SRE (Sempra Energy): Sempra could also be impacted by the expansion in community solar, potentially contributing to and benefiting from new community solar projects.
• DUK (Duke Energy): Duke Energy, being a major utility company, might need to develop or expand its community solar offerings to comply with the new requirements.