Weather disasters keep coming, with bigger storms that last longer. Know what information you need and where to get it. Make an outage prep plan that works for you and your household so you can get ready and stay ready before a power outage ever happens.
Check out Austin Energy’s top 10 list for outage prep. Be ready!!
DYK the Solar Car Challenge, THE annual high school solar car race, is less than 3 weeks away!
This year’s event, the 30th, is hosted by Oncor and Lockheed Martin. Starting on July 16 in Fort Worth, the nearly 1,400-mile race ends on July 23 in Palmdale, California. Of the 23 teams registered for this year’s competition, 11 are from Texas.
Since 1993, the Solar Car Challenge and its champion, Dr. Lehman Marks, has motivated students in science, engineering and alternative energy awareness, as well as teaching high school students worldwide how to build roadworthy solar cars.
Keep up with the race here.
The latest state results from Freeing the Grid, the highly-regarded report from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is in. Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, Texas scores a ‘D’ for its interconnection policies and processes 
On the brighter side, this means there’s lots of room for improvement 
Read the full report.
SEIA Press Release
June 1, 2023
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is releasing a suite of new and updated resources for consumers to meet the increase in demand for solar power created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
With the IRA’s incentives in place and energy bills weighing on family budgets, consumers are eager to add solar and storage to their energy mix. SEIA’s new resources are designed to help make the process as easy and straightforward as possible so they can make the best decision for their family.
“The Inflation Reduction Act has launched a wave of new interest in reliable, low-cost solar power,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “SEIA’s new consumer education resources are helping to meet this transformational moment and empower all Americans to confidently access the benefits of our solar-powered future.”
The materials released today are a part of SEIA’s Consumer Protection Portal, a collection of free information that helps consumers access solar energy and helps businesses navigate complex consumer protection laws.
For consumers, SEIA is releasing an updated Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power that explains the basics of solar and storage and shares residential financing options, smart shopping tips, and frequently asked questions. In addition, SEIA has updated its factsheets on the Section 25D residential tax credit and California’s net billing program so that consumers can understand how to utilize these incentives to get the most out of their solar installation.
Now that standalone energy storage systems qualify for federal incentives under the IRA, many consumers are also adding batteries to boost resilience and run their homes on solar power around the clock. SEIA’s new resources explain the benefits of solar + storage systems, share information about which systems qualify for the tax credit, and offer advice on the questions consumers should ask when considering a solar + storage system.
For businesses, SEIA has created a Consumer Protection 101 video course that’s part of its flagship Solar 101 Program and is available for free on SEIA’s Online Learning Center. In the coming months, SEIA will also be conducting a comprehensive update to its Consumer Protection Primer, an overview of state and federal laws related to consumer protection in the solar industry.
To make these resources as accessible as possible, SEIA is also in the process of translating the documents in the Consumer Protection Portal to Spanish.
“Solar remains one of the most popular energy sources in America, and these new tools will help even more Americans use solar for the first time,” said Hopper.
TXSES Platinum Business Member Big Sun Solar is helping businesses with their sustainability reporting to help illustrate their commitment to addressing ESG issues and creating long-term value for all stakeholders, attracting customers and employees.
Overall, solar energy can be an effective tool for businesses looking to meet ESG goals. It can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy costs, enhance corporate social responsibility and meet regulatory requirements.
As a part of business’s plan to meet ESG goals, businesses will publish annual corporate sustainability reports and Big Sun Solar provides data support for large global reporting projects like carbon disclosure project (CDP), Science Based Target initiative and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or smaller efforts like local energy benchmarking.
Read the full article.
San Antonio Business Journal
Angela Bartels
May 24, 2023