by Patrice 'Pete' Parsons, TXSES Executive Director
Another day, another dozen or more articles about the relentless positive impact of the Investment Recovery Act (IRA) on all of us. Admittedly, it’s hard keeping up with the daily eye-popping stats: billions in investments; millions in home energy improvements; solar installations; energy efficiency retrofits; reduced energy costs; and tens of thousands of new jobs in every state. Not that we’re complaining. Rather, call us gleeful as we blow out the candles on IRA’s first birthday cake.
Without question, the IRA is the most ingenious climate bill in U.S. history ever in five areas: manufacturing, electric transportation, green buildings, decarbonizing electricity and finance. The big winners? You, me and our other 334 million U.S. citizens. With the goal of powering the U.S. grid with 80% clean electricity and cutting climate pollution by 40% by 2030, the IRA marshaled an estimated $370 billion in federal incentives. That’s billion with a b.
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In each issue of The TXSES Report, we’ll feature a member of our esteemed Board of Directors. Say hello to Laura Doll, Secretary of the TXSES Board of Directors.
Laura’s initial association with TXSES started in January 2022. “I joined TXSES because solar has been a fundamental interest of my career in energy, starting with Austin Energy (AE) in 1982 when we were looking to diversify generation resources away from coal, gas and nuclear,” she said. “John Hoffner, former AE solar program director, taught me the basics and we worked together to help Austin become a leader in both utility scale and distributed installations nearly 30 years ago. Those efforts look somewhat primitive in hindsight, but they helped Austin move forward toward a greener portfolio.”
The TXSES board of directors plays a critical role in our success, including setting our strategic direction, ensuring that we have the necessary resources to achieve our goals and that we are operating within legal and ethical guidelines. TXSES board members act as trustees of our assets and must exercise due diligence and oversight to ensure that TXSES is well-managed and that our financial status remains sound.
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In this issue of the TXSES Solar Report, we highlight Lonestar Solar Services, one of the benefits of being a TXSES Platinum Business member.
Steven Ùgalde, our membership and marketing coordinator, sat down with CEO/Founder Freddy Gonzalez at Lonestar to learn more about its work. Here's that conversation.
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By Jane Pulaski, TXSES Director of Communications
Before Winter Storm Uri, few people knew about or had heard of ERCOT. But since then, and especially this summer, hardly a day goes by without press in state, national and international media reporting about how ERCOT continues to navigate the precarious balance between supply and demand. John Hoffner and I had the pleasure to chat with Beth Garza, former congestion analysis manager at ERCOT and renowned industry leader in electricity market design and oversight activities. Her ability to convey the most complicated nuances of electricity markets and market analysis was, in a word, captivating.
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New TXSES Business Members!
We're excited to welcome four new business members to the TXSES family!
TXSES is a hub for solar professionals and businesses involved in public affairs and government relations. We offer networking and training opportunities for our business members to interact with thought leaders, gain valuable knowledge and build essential relationships within the industry. As a business member, you will have a voice in making sure Texas has favorable policies to build a strong, sustainable solar industry!
Interested in becoming our newest business member? Contact Steven Ùgalde, Marketing and Membership Coordinator, at sugalde@txses.org.
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Breaking state and national clean energy headlines |
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The many calls to conserve electricity this month are reminders of the frailty of the Texas grid. An ERCOT Reliability and Markets Committee is working to figure out how the state's grid can best incorporate batteries as another source of power.
There was one unusual side effect to Wednesday night's moon that was recorded on ERCOT's website overnight. The operator of the Texas power grid showed there was one megawatt of solar power being generated at 1:39 a.m. Usually that number is 0 overnight.
Pay-to-conserve agreements are often called demand-response programs. As part of demand response, ERCOT will pay big energy users like manufacturers or (more recently) bitcoin miners to reduce the power they use. That frees up more electrons for others and keeps supply and demand balanced on the grid.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas announced two virtual power plants to provide power to the electric grid. These virtual power plants are bundles of small devices, like backup generators and electric vehicle chargers, owned by Tesla Electric customers in Houston and Dallas.
Texas continues to underinvest in demand-side solutions that could help to reduce grid stress while also lowering customers’ monthly power bills. Creating or expanding 10 utility energy efficiency and demand response programs from 2024 to 2030 could reduce summer peak loads by about 14,800 MW, according to a white paper published in May by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Oddly enough, Texas is front and center in the new activity despite persistent attempts by Republican office holders in the state to tilt the scales in favor of fossil energy.
Energy experts say this summer has not seen widespread brownouts or other high-profile grid failures in Texas because of solar and wind energy. According to Doug Lewin, a University of Texas study estimates Texas has saved around $30 billion from solar energy in the past ten years.
Angela Colmenero, who is serving as provisional attorney general while Ken Paxton awaits a trial in the state Senate that will decide whether he will be removed from office, told the county that Texas law doesn’t give county governments specific authority to ban the development of solar farms. And while other laws do give counties control over roads and public health, those laws could not likely be stretched to back up a solar farm ban, she said.
North Texans know there’s no shortage of unrelenting direct sunlight when they step outside during the summer. Can installing solar panels cut energy costs and prevent brownouts or blackouts? Here’s what to know.
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For nearly 50 years, TXSES has been the pre-eminent statewide organization that creates and disseminates quality, fact-based solar information for every Texas community. TXSES reaches and teaches thousands of Texans annually through multi-faceted education and outreach strategies that include traditional and social media, events and one-on-one engagement with decision-makers.
Public and private funds are needed to continue doing what we've done for more than four decades, delivering the kinds of resources and successes you've come to expect from us. Truth is, you make what we do possible.
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About TXSES: A membership-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization for nearly 40 years, TXSES’s unique niche is exemplified in our well-established local chapters in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio. Having boots on the ground in these major metropolitan cities, which represent nearly a quarter of Texas’s 29 million citizens, enables our gifted, dedicated members to disseminate fact-based, relevant solar information to all Texans. www.txses.org
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👉Like what you see? Have suggestions, ideas? We'll keep you updated with the latest TXSES happenings, plus important statewide clean energy headlines affecting you! BTW, feel free to share this with friends, family and neighbors. Remember, you have a voice 👍 Subscribe to The TXSES Report today!
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