How TXSES Came to Be
In 1976, a group of university professors and researchers met with solar energy advocates and business professionals at The University of Texas at Austin to form a statewide solar energy organization dedicated to educating all Texans about the benefits of solar energy.
Today, the Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) remains the state’s leading independent, nonprofit solar education organization, providing trusted, fact-based resources that inspire innovation, share best practices, and inform decision-makers about the importance of strong, forward-looking solar policies. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, TXSES works to grow the solar industry, protect clean air, strengthen healthy and resilient communities, support local well-paying jobs, and help build the foundation for a 100% clean energy future for Texas — one community at a time.
Our Mission:
equitable access to
solar energy for every Texan.
Because we envision a world where our children will grow up in a clean, safe climate, TXSES supports bold efforts to educate, inspire and enable every Texan to adopt solar energy as part of an equitable, 100% clean energy future.
A membership-based not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, 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 32 million citizens, enables our gifted, dedicated experts to disseminate fact-based, educational solar information.
Here’s a quick look at some of what we do:
- Monitor and engage in state and local policies that impact solar energy development and consumer access in Texas through our Policy Committee (open to Silver, Gold, and Platinum Business Members).
- Educate rural electric cooperatives and small utilities about the benefits of community solar;
- Connect underserved and low-to-moderate income populations with opportunities to become solar consumers;
- Create pathways to careers and advancement opportunities in solar energy for women
and students of color throughout the state; - Support community solar initiatives that benefit low-to-moderate income communities;
- Provide grants to our local chapters in Austin, North Texas, Houston, El Paso, and San Antonio to expand solar education efforts; and
- Maintain an active presence across social media platforms to educate, inform, and engage Texans about solar energy and clean energy solutions. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram!
- For 25 years, TXSES hosted the Cool House Tour with Austin Energy, ending in 2021.