According to one nonprofit company, San Antonio and Austin generate the vast majority of solar energy produced in the state. As the expansion of solar moves across Texas, both cities are emerging as solar front runners.
San Antonio and Austin combined for 85 percent of the state’s solar energy installations. That’s according to a report from Environment Texas.
"They have made major commitments to solar energy, both through building large scale utility solar projects as well as having great programs to help individuals install solar on their roof tops, their homes, their businesses, their schools,” said Environment Texas President Luke Metzger.
Metzger also said that since both CPS Energy and Austin Energy are municipally owned, it helps citizens to influence the investment in more energy-saving projects.
With CPS Energy’s solar farms and more than 800 individual solar-energy installations, San Antonio leads the state in solar energy generation with 52 megawatts.
Austin comes in second with 41 megawatts, and Oncor, the utility for Dallas and Fort Worth, generates 9 megawatts in third.
Metzger said Texas has the largest potential for Solar Energy usage given the size of the state and amount of sunshine.
"We have an incredible solar intensity and according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory we have enough solar intensity and land space to generate more than 100 times our current electric use through solar alone," Metzger said.
Several bills in the legislature this sessions target solar energy usage by offering tax exemptions or mandate the amount of solar energy the state should generate by the 2020’s.
