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Congress·In Committee·S. 2182

Sen. Luján Introduces Bill to Require Utilities to Offer Community Solar Programs

Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025

9 months ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
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Key Points

  • This bill would require most electric utilities (except Tribal utilities, for which it's optional) to offer community solar programs that give all ratepayers — including low-income customers — fair access to shared solar energy. Subscribers would get credits on their electric bills from a local solar facility, even without installing panels on their own property.

    From policy text

    “Each electric utility that is not a Tribal utility shall offer a community solar program to which all ratepayers of the electric utility, including low-income ratepayers, have equitable and demonstrable access.”
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  • The Department of Energy must create a program within one year to expand community solar access for individuals (especially renters and low-income households), businesses, nonprofits, and state, local, and Tribal governments. The program must align with existing federal programs serving low-income communities.

    From policy text

    “Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to increase access to community solar programs for-- (A) individuals, particularly individuals that do not have regular access to onsite solar, including low- and moderate-income individuals”
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  • States and utility regulators would have one year to begin considering the new community solar standard and two years to reach a final decision. States that already have similar programs in place would be exempt from this process.

    From policy text

    “Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 111”
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  • The bill extends the maximum length of federal public utility contracts from the current limit to 30 years, making it easier for the federal government to commit to long-term solar and renewable energy agreements at lower costs.

    From policy text

    “A contract under this paragraph for public utility services may be for a period of not more than 30 years.”
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  • Community solar facilities could be owned by utilities, subscribers, or third parties, and the bill requires programs to include a mechanism preventing market concentration while delivering customer benefits.

    From policy text

    “A community solar program established pursuant to this paragraph shall include a mechanism to allow electric utilities, non-utilities, and other appropriate entities to assume complete or partial ownership of relevant community solar facilities, as necessary to deliver customer benefits and mitigate the impacts of market concentration.”
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Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jun 26, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Jun 26, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 1 year of enactment

Department of Energy launches community solar consumer choice program

Technical assistance, data resources, and coordination with existing low-income programs would begin, laying the groundwork for states and communities to create solar programs.

Within 1 year of enactment

State regulators must begin formal consideration of community solar standards

Every state utility commission would need to start public proceedings to decide whether and how to require community solar programs from their utilities.

Within 2 years of enactment

State regulators must complete their decisions on community solar standards

Utility commissions must finalize whether to adopt community solar requirements. After this deadline, utilities in states that adopt the standard would begin rolling out community solar subscription options for customers.

Related Bills

1 bill
H.R. 4162Related bill

Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025

Jun 26 — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 2182
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.