The Path To A Clean Energy Future

In 2025, we will build on key opportunities in Arizona to expand clean energy access through solar-friendly policies and community-driven solutions. Collaborating with the Arizona Office of Resiliency, we’ll support the implementation of the $165 million federal Solar For All grant. Our focus will include advocating for battery storage incentives for Arizona Public Service (APS) customers, ensuring fair performance incentives for customer-sited resources, and driving adoption of solar + storage solutions. We’ll work with a broad coalition on a Just Energy Transition Campaign (JET) to secure economic support for communities impacted by fossil fuel closures. Additionally, we’ll continue to oppose the Arizona Corporation Commission’s attempts to undermine the value of solar while seeking improvements that reflect its benefits. Building on 2024 successes, we’ll also pursue the removal of discriminatory “solar taxes” and strengthen public support for local solar solutions.

California remains a critical clean energy market, but its leadership in innovative policy has waned in recent years. In 2025, Vote Solar is committed to revitalizing the state’s clean energy leadership through strategic advocacy and coalition efforts. We will engage with the California Energy Commission (CEC) to reform the state’s energy and resource planning processes, promoting policies that expand deployment of local clean energy resources for greater accessibility and community benefits. At the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), we’ll advocate for local solar solutions through analysis of the Distribution Upgrade Project Report and influence utility regulations to better integrate renewables. In the legislature, we’ll champion a bill that will require utilities to include virtual power plants in their planning, and work on expanding access to community solar under the newly mandated program. Additionally, we’ll provide technical expertise within the Healthy Homes Working Group to advance equitable electrification and distributed energy solutions for income-qualified households.

Colorado continues to lead the Interior West in clean energy progress, offering significant opportunities for solar expansion. In 2025, Vote Solar will focus on addressing challenges related to utility accountability and ensuring equitable access to clean energy resources. We will engage in the Equity Rulemaking docket, advocating for the Environmental Justice Coalition’s recommendations to prioritize income-qualified programs, outreach, and education in Public Utilities Commission (PUC) decisions. Additionally, we’ll intervene in Xcel Energy’s Electric Resource Plan to ensure coal plant closures result in renewable generation and local solar solutions rather than new gas infrastructure. Following 2024 legislative victories, we’ll work to implement updated interconnection rules and a new inclusive community solar program. We’ll also strengthen partnerships with the Environmental Justice Coalition to drive community-focused solutions. Finally, we will safeguard Colorado’s solar progress by monitoring and countering any legislative attempts to undermine rooftop solar and net metering.

Connecticut is working to modernize how electric utilities operate to better serve the public, and Vote Solar is helping to lead the charge. In 2025, we’ll focus on establishing a robust Performance-Based Regulation (PBR) framework that prioritizes accountability, resilience, and clean energy integration, creating a system that holds utilities accountable while encouraging clean energy, reliability, and fairness for customers. We’ll work with local partners and the state’s utility regulators to make sure new rules incentivize utilities to improve service, invest in clean energy, and help customers save money. At the same time, we’ll push for penalties when utilities fail to meet these goals. A key focus of our work will be shaping the state’s future grid to include more rooftop solar, battery storage, and other local clean energy solutions. By staying involved at every step, we’ll ensure that Connecticut’s utility system becomes more modern, equitable, and focused on benefiting the people they are meant to serve.

Dominated by investor-owned utilities and conservative lawmakers, Florida’s energy landscape is challenging. However, growing concerns over extreme weather offer opportunities to advance clean energy. In 2025, Vote Solar will focus on solar as a solution towards resilience and affordability while building public and legislative support for clean energy. We’ll advocate for a bill encouraging wider use of SolarApp+, a tool that simplifies permitting processes for residential solar projects, reducing costs and delays. This effort will also help educate lawmakers on the connection between clean energy and community resilience to extreme weather.

Additionally, we’ll finalize a pilot program with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to equip schools and shelters in under-resourced and disinvested communities with solar and battery systems for storm readiness, showcasing solar’s role in community resilience. We’ll also defend net metering against potential attacks and prepare for FPL’s 2025 rate case, pushing for clean energy solutions that protect Floridians from rising costs and climate impacts.

Georgia’s energy system is heavily controlled by Georgia Power, whose influence over policies and frequent rate hikes has sparked growing frustration among lawmakers and residents. With energy affordability and utility accountability becoming urgent issues, Vote Solar sees opportunities to push for clean energy progress in 2025 by connecting grassroots advocacy with regulatory reform. We’ll support partners implementing the Solar for All program, helping to identify policy gaps, and training community organizations to bring clean energy to more Georgians. Using lessons from a successful pilot program, we aim to make the Solar for All program sustainable and accessible statewide. In Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), we’ll challenge proposals for new gas plants, advocating for solar and storage solutions to meet growing energy needs more affordably. Additionally, we’ll address affordability issues by promoting a program to redirect utility over-earnings into energy efficiency and solar for low-wealth households, countering Georgia Power’s history of overcharging ratepayers.

Idaho is beginning to make progress in clean energy, despite historically slow adoption and utility resistance to distributed energy resources like solar. The implementation of the Solar for All program marks a positive shift, offering opportunities to expand clean energy access and influence the state’s energy future. In 2025, Vote Solar will focus on ensuring fair compensation for solar by monitoring the update to the Value of Distributed Energy Resources rate. Building on our advocacy in Idaho Power’s solar docket, we aim to secure export rates that support solar and battery adoption. We’ll also work closely with community organizations and policymakers to strengthen the design and implementation of Idaho’s Solar for All program, ensuring it reaches communities that have historically been left out of clean energy conversations. By advocating for inclusive policies and fair solar rates, we’ll help Idaho to take meaningful steps toward a cleaner, more equitable energy future.

Illinois is pursuing ambitious clean energy goals under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), aiming for carbon-free power by 2045 and 100% renewable energy by 2050. However, slow deployment of clean energy resources and procurement shortfalls are threatening these targets, risking delays and continued reliance on fossil fuels. In 2025, Vote Solar will push for legislative reforms to accelerate clean energy deployment, including updates to the Renewable Portfolio Standard and new energy storage and efficiency targets. We’ll advocate for comprehensive energy planning and work with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition to improve state procurement processes. Our efforts will ensure CEJA’s equity-focused goals are realized, including supporting the Illinois Solar for All program, enhancing grid equity, and incentivizing diverse hiring among renewable energy companies. At the Illinois Commerce Commission, we’ll fight for fair compensation for solar customers, aiming to sustain robust local solar growth while advancing an equitable and resilient clean energy future.

Indiana remains a challenging landscape for solar, as the state is heavily reliant on coal and governed by a commission that does not prioritize climate action. Despite these hurdles, we are collaborating with local clean energy advocates to block new gas projects and promote clean energy alternatives. In 2025, we’ll monitor and support interventions in Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and Duke Energy’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) proceedings, opposing proposed gas plants. Building on our 2023 collaboration with the Citizens Action Coalition (CAC), we will support the development of alternative modeling to counter Duke’s flawed Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which underpins their push for an 800 MW gas plant. Similarly, we’ll back CAC’s efforts in NIPSCO’s CPCN case and its upcoming IRP proceeding. Additionally, we’re providing technical and financial support to CAC in Indiana Michigan Power’s IRP process, continuing our 2024 engagement to challenge flawed utility plans.

Massachusetts has ambitious clean energy goals under its 2021 Next Generation Roadmap law, but progress is hindered by transmission constraints, permitting delays, and grid capacity issues. Despite these challenges, the state benefits from a strong clean energy industry, growing wind and solar capacity, and a governor committed to clean energy as a climate and economic solution. In 2025, we’ll focus on legislation that would advance local solar solutions and support a more equitable and efficient grid. This includes developing a legislative package with input from partners to address interconnection challenges, virtual power plants, and funding for new projects in environmental justice communities. We’ll also complete and publicize a decarbonization cost study with Clean Energy Group to strengthen support for local solar. Additionally, we’ll continue to engage in Department of Public Utilities dockets, prioritizing efforts to advance equitable grid planning and reduce energy burdens while building support for energy justice legislation.

Michigan’s clean energy future is taking shape, but key equity challenges remain. The 2024 100% clean energy bill excluded essential equity provisions, highlighting divides among advocacy groups. Vote Solar is working to rebuild trust, align diverse priorities, and ensure equitable implementation of Michigan’s clean energy standard while preventing reliance on new gas projects. In 2025, our focus includes enabling third-party community solar through legislation to unlock the $156M from federal Solar for All funding and advocating for equitable grid access in DTE and Consumers Energy rate cases. We’ll support environmental justice partners in shaping Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) to meet decarbonization goals and monitor the Whole Homes, Whole Communities initiative, ensuring that the $8M allocated for solar in disinvested and under-resourced areas is properly implemented. Our coalition efforts will push for transformative policies, including virtual power plants, microgrids, and community solar, to create a clean, affordable, and just energy system for all Michiganders.

Minnesota is poised to lead the Midwest’s clean energy transition. In 2024, the state’s biggest utility proposed using distributed energy resources (DERs) in their planning–a shift that has clearly been catalyzed by our regulatory work over the last few years. In 2025, we’ll advance DERs, such as local solar, by shaping Xcel’s resource planning and promoting Virtual Power Plants (VPP) to modernize the grid, lower costs, and expand access. We’ll also monitor equity-focused regulatory decisions, advocate for rooftop solar in senior living facilities, and advance energy justice legislation, including protections for low-wealth households. Through collaboration with the CLEAR and Rise and Repair coalitions, we aim to strengthen community resilience, ensure affordability, and establish Minnesota as a national model for equitable clean energy progress.

Nevada’s clean energy progress is shaped by a unique mix of political dynamics, a powerful utility sector, and large energy consumers like casinos. While the state has excelled in utility-scale solar, the deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and clean energy reforms face hurdles due to complex utility-policymaker relationships. However, opportunities like utility accountability legislation, modeled after Colorado, and significant Solar for All (SFA) funding offer pathways for expanding community and rooftop solar, especially for under-resourced communities. In 2025, Vote Solar will focus on regulatory and legislative initiatives to advance clean energy equity. These include advocating for robust DER policies in Nevada Energy’s Distribution Resource Plan process and ensuring that those commitments are accurately modeled and implemented. We’ll also support legislation prioritizing SFA funding for frontline communities and expanding net metering to multifamily housing. Strengthening coalitions with environmental justice and frontline groups will remain central to our efforts, ensuring all Nevadans benefit from clean energy solutions.

Rising electricity demands and aging infrastructure are a challenge for New Jersey, but the state’s reliance on imported power creates opportunities for locally sited clean energy. In 2024, New Jersey passed an equity-focused community solar bill, a major win supported by Vote Solar and our partners. In 2025, our focus will shift to advancing clean energy legislation, updating the Energy Master Plan (EMP), and ensuring federal funds drive equitable outcomes. Our key priorities include pushing the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to oppose polluting gas plant projects, champion local renewable energy, and prioritize equity in grid modernization and storage planning. We’ll also collaborate with community groups to hold the BPU accountable for workforce development commitments and equitable program expansion. By working with the Governor’s office, stakeholders, and coalition partners, we aim to advance New Jersey’s transition to 100% clean energy.

With strong clean energy leadership in the governor’s office and legislature, New Mexico offers a promising environment for solar advancements. The state also received one of the highest per capita Solar for All (SFA) allocations, presenting a significant opportunity to expand equitable solar access. We will focus on safeguarding the financial benefits of net metering for low-wealth households as SFA funding increasingly drives rooftop solar adoption in these communities. We’ll also monitor New Mexico’s community solar program, working to ensure under-resourced households meaningfully benefit. The program is the first to include Tribal-specific provisions recognizing Tribal sovereignty, has updated income eligibility rules, and is slated to  expand by 300MW. By engaging in legislative and regulatory processes, we aim to advance equitable solar access and position New Mexico as a leader in the clean energy transition.

New York boasts ambitious climate laws like the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and the 2023 Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA), empowering the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to lead clean energy projects. Despite this, the state is falling behind its target of 70% renewable energy by 2030. In 2025, we aim to accelerate massive deployment of publicly owned renewables and local solar through regulatory engagement, strategic communications, and research. We’ll lead the Public Power campaign’s research working group, leveraging our technical expertise to present evidence in support of BPRA. We will continue to campaign for NYPA’s REACH bill discount program for low-wealth and under-resourced communities and a proposed 3.9 GW distributed solar initiative. Collaborating with New York Renews, we’ll help design a Cap and Invest regime to hold polluters accountable while creating wealth-building opportunities in under-resourced areas. Additionally, we’ll advocate for expanding the state’s distributed solar target to 20 GW by 2035 through tax credits, siting reforms, and interconnection rule changes. These efforts will support New York’s transition to a just, renewable energy future.

North Carolina’s energy landscape is dominated by Duke Energy, whose influence poses challenges for advancing renewable energy. Vote Solar focuses on policy reforms that support local solar, energy justice, and resilience. The state is seeing some clean energy progress with initiatives like the PowerPair pilot program, which integrates solar and storage to improve grid resilience. However, Duke Energy’s reliance on gas, justified by load growth from data centers and manufacturing, remains a barrier. In 2025, we’ll prioritize inclusive partnerships and advocacy for historically disinvested communities, particularly in eastern North Carolina. Our key efforts include developing a solar-plus-storage resilience hub in the city of Enfield, advancing equitable solar and storage programs like PowerPair for households relying on medical devices, and renegotiating Duke’s flawed Clean Energy Connection program. We’ll also collaborate on the Solar for All program to expand clean energy access, and monitor Duke’s bill credit program for under-resourced households to advocate for permanent affordability measures.

As a top producer of fossil fuels, Pennsylvania significantly trails its neighbors in clean energy policy and development. Despite federal incentives providing opportunities for transformative change, the state lacks a policy framework to enable rapid renewable energy adoption. Vote Solar has cultivated partnerships and built a strong case for locally sited solar to benefit under-resourced communities burdened by high energy costs, blackouts, and rising bills. In 2025, we will assist state agencies in finalizing low-wealth solar programs funded by Solar for All, work with partners to establish a community solar program, and support the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) to modernize the outdated Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS). Alongside frontline partners like POWER Interfaith, we’ll influence Philadelphia Gas Works’ decarbonization efforts and develop legislation mandating utility adoption of clean energy. Vote Solar will continue advocating for policy change that prioritizes equity, community benefits, and the transition to a clean energy future.

South Carolina’s clean energy expansion faces resistance from utilities and political challenges, but the 2025 omnibus energy bill and Solar for All funding offer significant opportunities. Utilities resist reforms that impact their profits, and the growth of local clean energy resources remains limited. However, Vote Solar sees the omnibus bill as a chance to push for clean energy provisions and grid modernization. In 2025, we’ll advocate for DER expansion, create a resilience pilot project in the Pee Dee region, and partner with the Energy Justice Coalition to advance equitable policies. We’ll also conduct a study on disparities in electricity reliability to strengthen the case for local solar solutions. Additionally, we’ll support the Office of Resilience in designing Solar for All programs and build coalitions across the Carolinas to ensure utility accountability and collaborative grid planning. These efforts aim to improve solar access and equity while addressing systemic barriers to clean energy.

Vote Solar’s work in Tennessee focuses on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federally owned utility largely unregulated by state oversight. TVA relies heavily on gas and offers limited stakeholder engagement in its planning processes. Vote Solar is collaborating with partners to push TVA toward renewable energy adoption and greater transparency in decision-making. In 2025, we’ll engage in TVA’s integrated resource planning, leveraging insights from North Carolina to advocate for cleaner, community-driven energy solutions. Our efforts include promoting renewable energy projects that prioritize transparency, equity, and stakeholder participation. By working with local partners, we aim to create pathways for more inclusive energy policies, ensuring that TVA moves away from fossil fuels and aligns with the region’s growing need for sustainable energy solutions.

Utah’s conservative politics and strong utility influence create hurdles for clean energy progress. However, 2025 presents opportunities, particularly with Solar for All funding driving solar access. Vote Solar is focused on advancing distributed energy resources (DERs) and overcoming policy barriers that hinder solar adoption. This year, we’ll support the Utah Public Service Commission in updating outdated interconnection rules to accommodate technologies like battery storage. We’ll advocate for fair rooftop solar export credit rates to restore stability for solar customers and work with utilities to reduce reliance on gas and coal in their integrated resource plans. Additionally, we’ll collaborate with partners to implement Utah’s Solar for All program, ensuring it effectively supports under-resourced communities. By aligning policy reforms and technical support, Vote Solar is committed to expanding equitable clean energy access across the state.

Although not a priority state, Vote Solar engages in Virginia when opportunities arise to make progress. In 2025, our focus is on protecting retail rate net metering and preserving clean energy access for low-wealth households. We’re collaborating with Clean Virginia, Sierra Club, and Solar United Neighbors to intervene in net metering dockets for Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy. These dockets, which began in late 2024, present an opportunity to advocate for fair compensation for solar customers and safeguard critical programs. Our work emphasizes the importance of retaining provisions that ensure equitable access to clean energy. Through strategic interventions, Vote Solar aims to protect the state’s solar progress, support community-driven solutions, and influence policies that expand solar adoption while maintaining affordability and fairness.

Wisconsin’s clean energy landscape faces significant challenges due to strong utility resistance. The recent overturning of a ruling in favor of Third-Party Ownership (TPO) for rooftop solar underscores these obstacles. Despite setbacks, Vote Solar remains committed to fighting for solar rights and fair compensation for distributed energy resources (DERs).

In 2025, we’ll appeal the TPO decision and intervene in utility rate cases to advocate for equitable valuation of rooftop and behind-the-meter solar projects. Our efforts in the Wisconsin Public Service Commission’s net metering investigation will focus on ensuring fair compensation for solar customers and promoting policies that support grid reliability and energy affordability. We’ll also address inequities in current rate structures that disadvantage DER users. By challenging anti-solar rulings and advocating for fair policies, Vote Solar aims to expand solar access and protect customer rights in Wisconsin.