The State-Level Clean Energy Opportunities

Hi there,

AI load is rewriting the grid—coal retirements are pausing—and states are stepping on the gas. New York is fast-tracking ~$5B of wind/solar (plus workforce $$), Arizona and Montana launched energy task forces, PJM states are pushing queue/forecasting fixes, Wisconsin may open a community-solar lane, Michigan is rewarding host towns, and Rhode Island is easing bills—all while federal dollars get pulled back.

Translation: States are where the action is. Most near-term clean energy opportunities will be state-driven—and that’s exactly what these briefings will track.

Quick favor: if you’ve been reading this a while, hit reply—tell me what’s working and what’s missing? I read and reply to all responses.

🔦 Signals Worth Monitoring

🔨Headline: Coal plants kept online to meet AI demand

What Happened: U.S. Energy Secretary confirmed most coal plants will delay retirement to meet surging AI/data center electricity demand.

Why Founders Should Care: Demonstrates the grid stress from AI growth. Creates opportunities for quick deployment of energy storage solutions at the data center sites to reduce the need for peaker power from coal plants.

🔨Headline: New York accelerates $5B clean-energy procurement

What Happened: Gov. Hochul ordered expedited procurement of wind and solar before federal subsidies expire, with proposals due Dec 2025.

Why Founders Should Care: NY State RFPs will move faster than usual. Developers should look to apply and ready interconnection + permitting packages immediately. Find the application details in our RFP Bulletin below.

🔨Headline: N.Y. invests $16M to expand clean energy workforce and EV service training

What Happened: During Climate Week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $16 million to strengthen New York’s clean energy workforce. The New York Power Authority will provide $12M to the state Department of Labor for clean‑energy training—including EV maintenance and charging station service—and $5M to support participants with childcare, transportation and other costs, while the Department of Environmental Conservation will award $4M in Green Jobs for Youth grants to train young people in disadvantaged communities

Why Founders Should Care: Founders building EPC businesses around EVs, storage or renewables can tap a newly skilled labor pool and partner with state‑funded training programs.

🔨Headline: Michigan’s EGLE awards $1.85M to communities hosting solar and storage projects

What Happened: The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) unveiled the latest Renewables Ready Communities Awards, giving $1.85M to eight local governments that have permitted solar or battery storage projects. Awards range from $78K to $500K, funding road repairs, park enhancements and building upgrades in towns hosting projects such as the 100‑MW Portside Solar and 112‑MW Cedar Fields Solar.

Why Founders Should Care: These grants signal Michigan’s willingness to share economic benefits with host communities, potentially easing siting and permitting. Founders should explore co‑investment opportunities in these regions.

🔨Headline: Montana Governor Launches Energy Task Force to Address Power Supply and Demand Growth

What Happened: Governor Greg Gianforte created the "Unleashing American Made Energy Task Force" to respond to a projected 20% increase in electricity demand and Montana’s shift from net exporter to importer of energy. The task force convened its first meeting Sept. 22, 2025, established three subcommittees (generation, transmission/markets, demand), and outlined priorities for boosting energy supply using an “all‑of‑the‑above” approach. The focus was on organizing teams, defining scope, and launching efforts for comprehensive energy recommendations.

Why Founders Should Care: This initiative signals Montana’s commitment to expanding energy production across sectors, including renewables and fossil fuels, with a mandate to streamline permitting and reduce project delays due to litigation.

🔨Headline: Arizona issues executive order to create statewide energy plan and streamline development

What Happened: On Sept. 15, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed Executive Order 2025‑13, directing the state to establish an Arizona Energy Promise Taskforce. The task force must draft a statewide energy plan and, within 30 days, streamline energy development on state lands to meet soaring demand—Arizona utilities project a 40% increase in peak demand over the next 15 years. The order responds to datacenter‑driven load growth and rising bills; the taskforce must propose a “strategic policy framework” to facilitate large‑load growth while minimizing ratepayer impact

Why Founders Should Care: For founders, the task force’s directives could accelerate permitting on state lands and highlight opportunities in generation, grid infrastructure and demand management solutions geared to data centers. Tracking the forthcoming plan will help in aligning proposals with state priorities.

🔨Headline: Rhode Island proposes $180M package to cut energy bills and urges further rate relief

What Happened: Gov. Dan McKee unveiled a two‑year relief package aimed at reducing energy costs by about $180M. It includes $155M in credits on residential and commercial bills during winter months of 2025–26 and 2026–27, $5M in credits for low‑income households funded by Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative proceeds, and an additional $20M credit spread over July 2025‑July 2026.

Why Founders Should Care: Companies developing demand-side solutions or community solar in Rhode Island should consider how bill credits might affect customer economics.

🔨Headline: States form PJM Governors’ Collaborative to reform grid operator and lower costs

What Happened: Following a 13 state summit in Philadelphia, governors—including Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and New Jersey’s Phil Murphy—launched a PJM Governors’ Collaborative to push for reform of the PJM Interconnection. They argued PJM’s board selections and slow interconnection queue contribute to soaring capacity prices, stressing the need for greater state representation, improved load forecasting and streamlined permitting to bring new power online faster.

Why Founders Should Care: Startups offering grid software, forecasting or interconnection management solutions may find an engaged audience as states pressure PJM to modernize. The collaborative could also lead to rule changes that favor projects with faster delivery timelines and consumer cost reductions.

🔨Headline: Wisconsin coalition pushes community solar bill opening market to private developers

What Happened: RENEW Wisconsin and partners are backing community solar legislation that will be introduced this session. The bill would allow private developers to build and operate solar projects; key provisions require developers to lease land, limit projects to ≤5 MW with a maximum of three subscribers (no subscriber can take more than 40% of output), mandate dual use (e.g., pollinator habitat) and require local approval. Developers must reimburse utilities for electrical upgrades and secure enough subscribers.

Why Founders Should Care: Passage would create a new market for small utility scale solar in Wisconsin, enabling founders with community solar management platforms to expand into this state.

🔨Headline: U.S. cancels $13B in unobligated green energy funds

What Happened: The Trump administration announced it intends to cancel more than $13 billion in funds pledged for clean energy—including wind, solar, batteries, and electric vehicles. These funds, previously allocated under the Biden administration, were left unobligated and are set to be returned to the U.S. Treasury. Energy Secretary Chris Wright explained the administration’s stance is to cut subsidies for renewables and EVs, prioritizing affordable, reliable energy sources and taxpayer responsibility. The specific programs and projects affected have not yet been fully detailed, but the cancellation is clearly aimed at continuing the rolling back of government support for clean energy initiatives.

Why Founders Should Care: Further reinforces that federal support for clean energy is not to be depended on. Focus on state level opportunities.

📌 RFP Bulletin

Washington Clean Energy Siting & Permitting Grants

• 📅 Key Dates: Proposals must be submitted by Oct 9 2025 at 11:59 a.m. PT

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Planning and process improvements that expedite siting and permitting of large clean‑energy projects (≥10 MW). Eligible activities include pre‑development work, land‑use studies, programmatic environmental impact statements, hiring permitting staff, and other measures that reduce permitting timelines.

• 🗺️ Region: WA

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/clean-energy-siting-and-permitting-grants-now-open/

• 🗒️ Our Notes: The program has $4.85 million available for grants. Priority is given to applicants demonstrating project readiness and community engagement

2025 RES Solicitation for Tier 1 RECs – NYSERDA

• 📅 Key Dates: Step‑One eligibility applications due Oct 21, 2025 (3 p.m. EDT); Step Two bid proposals due Dec 4, 2025 (3 p.m. EDT); provisional awards expected Feb 2026

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Procurement of 5.6 million Tier 1 Renewable Energy Certificates from large scale solar, wind and other land based renewable projects that can achieve commercial operation soon.

• 🗺️ Region: NY

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://portal.nyserda.ny.gov/CORE_Solicitation_Detail_Page?SolicitationId=a0rcr00000gwakmAAA

2025 PJM RFP for Capacity & Energy – PSEG Long Island/LIPA

• 📅 Key Dates: Proposals due Jan 7, 2026 (5 p.m. EST); selections announced Apr 30, 2026; PPA negotiations complete Aug 31, 2026.

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Up to 685 MW of capacity (or capacity plus energy) from existing or new generation projects in PJM’s JCPL LDA or EMAAC zones. Minimum offer size is 50 MW per project.

• 🗺️ Region: PJM - projects must be located in JCPL LDA or EMAAC load zones, but LIPA will use the power to meet Long Island demand.

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://www.psegliny.com/aboutpseglongisland/proposalsandbids/2025pjmrfp

• 🗒️ Our Notes: Respondents can propose capacity products or combined capacity‑and‑energy products.

DOE RFA for AI Data Centers & Integrated Energy Infrastructure – Idaho National Laboratory

• 📅 Key Dates: Applications due Nov 7, 2025; selection announcement expected Dec 19, 2025

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Long‑term lease of federal land at Idaho National Laboratory to develop AI data center infrastructure integrated with innovative energy generation and storage (e.g., advanced nuclear and storage technologies). Projects must be commercially viable without direct federal funding.

• 🗺️ Region: INK’s Federal Land

• 🔗 RFP Link:https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2FFedConnect%2F%3Fdoc%3DDE-FOA-0003578%26agency%3DDOE&doc=DE-FOA-0003578&agency=DOE

• 🗒️ Our Notes: DOE will consider three project configurations: (A) integrated AI data centers with on‑site energy generation; (B) phased projects with quick deployment followed by later energy generation phases; and (C) energy generation or storage projects that support future AI infrastructure. Eligible applicants include private data center developers and energy infrastructure companies.

CleanArc Data Centers Renewable PPA RFP (Global)

• 📅 Key Dates: Rolling Call

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Solicitation for renewable‑energy projects (solar, wind, solar + battery energy storage, wind + battery, or standalone battery storage) to supply hyperscale data center customers.

• 🗺️ Region: Global, CleanArc is a middleman between Hyperscalers and Developers.

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://www.cleanarcdatacenters.com/rfp/renewable-ppa-rfp/

• 🗒️ Our Notes: Responses seem to be non‑binding. Stand‑alone or co‑sited storage resources and tolling agreements are also acceptable.

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