Solar Reflector / Chairman’s Corner — August 2013

By Chris Boyer, TXSES Board Chair

Thanks to solar supporters like you, the success of the solar industry has been truly amazing; even in the face of all kinds of adversity from the energy industry.   Can you believe the Department of Energy published in the 2003 Annual Energy Outlook that “oil prices would be steady at $23 to $25 per barrel through 2025?” Wrong!  Oil prices have shot up since 2003 and today sit around $100/barrel.  They also predicted that “solar PV would grow slowly and might break 1 GW of capacity by 2025.” Wrong!  Solar capacity zoomed past 1 GW a few years after that prediction and we stand at about 5 GW today with many predictions based on projects in progress showing well over 30 GW before 2020.

I just briefed our Department of Energy’s Annual Energy Outlook for 2013 and was glad to finally see some realism in the forecasts; i.e they admitted oil prices would rise and solar was growing fast.  But I think they still way underestimate what solar will do in the years to come.  They predict solar growth rates will slow after the 30% tax credit expires because they think that is what is bolstering solar investment.  However, they completely fail to acknowledge that solar prices are continuing to decrease while fossil fueled electricity is continuing to rise.  The cost of solar electricity (with no incentives) will become significantly lower than fossil fueled electricity for most of the US in the 2015 to 2025 period.  Therefore, the biggest growth in solar is yet to come!

Because the PUCs and utilities won’t embrace it yet, solar is still largely a grassroots and private investment.  This means your action makes a difference.  The Solarize Plano program  brought together residents who aggregated a request for proposal to gain pricing leverage and permitting support.  Go start a program like this in your neighborhood!  Contact TXSES for help getting started.

Also, be sure and tell your friends about this year’s Solar Tours: Dallas/Fort Worth (Oct 5th), the Hill Country Solar Tour west of Austin toward Blanco (Oct 12)  and the Houston Solar Tour (Oct 19th)  This is a great time to introduce people to what solar can do in buildings and homes.  For those thinking about installing solar, it is a great opportunity to meet with installers and talk to the homeowners whose lifestyle includes a solar power system.

If you can’t make the tours, then visit Fredericksburg during the Renewable Energy Round Up September 27- 29th.  This is an excellent weekend to be introduced to solar and sustainable living; or for us old-timers to catch up on the latest and greatest – like the new Grid-Tie SMA Sunny Boy with an outlet for solar powered back-up power while the grid is down.   My friend John Miggins just sent me a photo of one he just installed and it looks awesome – I needed that during Hurricane Ike.

TXSES is moving us toward a sustainable energy future.  So renew your membership, or join for the first time, and be proud to say that you did your part to make Texas the leader in solar energy.

Shine On, Texas!