By Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons
Executive Director TXSES
Since February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Texas has been exporting more natural gas to Europe…more than ever before, leaving less gas for Texas consumers and at elevated prices. Coupled with a relentless explosion in the state’s population and record-breaking searing summer temperatures, Texas consumers have been hit with hefty electric bills this summer – at least 50% more than last year.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the cost of electricity for residents rose 10% in the last year. The average cost of electricity rose to 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour in March. Natural gas prices are up 181% from May 2021 to May 2022. Texas saw the largest year-to-year increase in electricity generation (17.7%) due to experiencing the second warmest May on record.
And it’s only August.
Since February 2021, ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas), the Texas grid operator, has shifted its historic priority of providing Texans cheap power to focusing on grid reliability. That translates to higher utility bills for you and me. According to City Public Service (CPS), the municipal utility in San Antonio, average June bills rose from $147 in 2021 to $225 in 2022. Incidentally, we’re all still paying for February 2021 and will be for years.
To add insult to injury, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs stopped accepting applications for the Texas Utility Help, an assistance program for low-income homeowners and renters. The $50 million program launched on July 7 and within two weeks, it stopped processing applications. According to sources, it’s unclear if the fund dried up or was ill-prepared to handle the demand. Either way, it’s another Texas consumer energy pain point.
Even though we are all paying the price for it, on the plus side, the state’s record-high sales tax and oil and gas production revenues over the past year translate to an extra $27 billion in state coffers. Lawmakers are already hard at work vying for those funds ahead of the January 2023 legislative session. Grid resilience or transmission upgrades legislation anyone?
What are some Texas clean energy stats?
ERCOT data say solar power is the fastest-growing source of energy in Texas, increasing 70% year-over-year in May.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Texas installed 6,060 MW of solar generation capacity in 2021, for a total capacity of 13,947 MW by Q1 2022. Texas now has enough solar power for 1,682,330 homes, with growth potential of 18,401 MW for the next five years. And while only 3.75% of Texas’ electricity currently comes from solar, the potential market is still massive.
In fact, while total electricity demand in the ERCOT region increased by 9% compared with Q1 2021, wind and solar generation increased by 14% and 85% respectively (not a typo). Renewable energy, which accounted for 31.25% of electricity in Q1 2022, surpassed gas-fired energy!
What’s more, ERCOT gives a robust thumbs-up growth forecast for energy storage technologies. Texas had 833 MW at the end of 2021 but installed capacity could reach 5,000 MW by the end of 2022 and 6,500 MW by 2024. Surely that counts for clean energy bragging rights.
Just last week, the long-awaited Inflation Reduction Act includes a 10-year extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) at 30%, stepping down to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034. The 30% credit also applies to energy storage whether it is co-located or installed as standalone energy storage, enabling the retrofit of a battery to a solar array while taking advantage of the credit. Envision Texas’ clean energy generation in 10 years.
Where’s the solar workforce?
With the inevitable growth of clean energy resources over the next 10 years, the obvious question is will there be enough of a trained, quality workforce to respond to the relentless need?
In the recently released 2021 National Solar Jobs Census, there are more than a quarter million solar workers, an increase of 9.2% or 21,563 more jobs compared to 2020. In fact, nearly every state saw job growth in 2021. Good news: less than one-third of solar jobs require a bachelor’s degree.
Though the surge in solar permits issued and financials like declining hardware costs, local incentives and federal incentives are compelling, our business installer members fret about the severe shortage of workers, from entry-level to professional. According to the 2021 National Solar Jobs Census, nearly 50% of industry respondents cited competition and small applicant pool as the most significant reason for difficulty hiring at solar companies. When it comes to the most difficult positions to fill, 23% cited installation workers as #1, with electricians and construction workers a close second at 22.5%.
At TXSES, we’re keenly aware of the urgent need for quality training and education, and we’re working to plug those gaps with statewide intern and apprenticeship programs. We’re working closely with industry and educators to ensure that the curricula match industry needs so workers are ready on day one.
What can you do?
If you’ve been thinking about installing solar on your roof or subscribing to a community solar farm, join the hundreds of Texans who are thinking and doing the same thing. TXSES’ business member-installers tell us they’ve never been busier, and battery storage is now a regular part of the conversation. With natural gas prices likely to remain high for some time to come, investing in solar, either rooftop or community solar, is a hedge against rising natural gas prices, grid insecurity and extreme weather events. Visit our business members page for installers in Texas.
As Texans hunkered down again from a “reserve capacity energy shortage” this week, one thing was clear: Texans who invested in solar helped the electric grid keep us cool.
The great thing about solar in increasingly hot Texas, with temperature records blown out across the state over the past three days, is that the exact times when we’re reaching to increase the air conditioning, solar is doing its thing: offsetting that increased need with the sun’s rays.
As natural gas price increases blast off, and gas, coal and nuclear barely meeting the challenge, solar has done its work affordably and quietly. All of which makes for head-scratching: the decisions that Texas municipalities and electrical co-ops are inflicting on solar installers and their customers are slowing the pace of this clean energy source across our sunny state.
Texas Solar Energy Society is the oldest solar nonprofit in Texas (established in 1982). Recently, our business members tell us of the ever-increasing obstacles being put in their way, just at this critical time when we could use more Texas-abundant, clean energy on the grid.
From Houston to Central Texas to the Panhandle, excessive permit processing and lengthy inspections by municipalities are slowing the pace of solar installations. What many readers may not know is that every solar installation requires multiple building and electrical permits, with some cities requiring as many as six different permits. Some installers have opted out in Waco due to its labyrinthian permit processes. In Houston, the energy capital of the world, solar installers wait months for permit approval. They’re often sent “back to the end of the line” for the slightest error on the long application form.
Another hurdle installers face is rapidly increasing processing fees for solar permits. In many Texas cities, solar electricity installation permit fees can be 10 times as much as residential general electrical installation permit fees. The largest electrical co-op in the country, the Pedernales Electrical Co-op, has the following fees for homeowners who want to install rooftop systems:
Application and engineering study fee: $250 for systems smaller than or equal to 50kW.
Interconnection agreement and inspection fee for the same system size: $250;
For systems larger than 50kW, the application fee is $150 with an additional $250 for the interconnect and inspection fee and the full cost of a larger engineering study fee.
Inspections are often another morass of wait time. In one municipality, a fire department is doing the inspections, using ladders to access roofs. And while our industry absolutely promotes safety inspections, it would be cost-effective for cities to start investing in trained inspection personnel, capable of efficiently carrying out these assessments.
Solar is a massive growth industry in Texas with well-paying jobs. More than 85% of homeowners in Texas are now purchasing batteries as a part of their rooftop systems. In this way, they can use their own stored energy instead of grid-generated energy.
Having more efficient inspections and permitting processes can allow the current backlog of solar rooftop projects to move faster when we need them the most, in what will clearly be the hottest summer on record in Texas history. And while the costs of solar panels and storage batteries have come down in price significantly over the past few years, these are not inexpensive systems.
Current in-the-queue Texas solar rooftop homeowners’ investment doesn’t just benefit them. Their investment helps all Texans. Let’s work to get renewable energy onto our massively over-stressed grid.
Texas cities and the 67 electrical co-ops throughout the state should not hamper solar’s growth. Instead, they should work to connect more renewable, clean energy to the grid.
The Texas Solar Energy Society will be reaching out to all municipalities to promote a universal permit that will speed the process of Texans investing in solar. We hope that Texans will reach out to their local leaders and ask what kind of welcome mat they’ll provide for solar installers and solar rooftop investors; it should be an efficient one.
Schedule: Part-time Salary range: Commensurate with experience Position: reports to Executive Director and Board Chair Location: Flexible; Texas-based preferred
For more than four decades, TXSES has been the pre-eminent statewide organization developing free thought-leading, independent, fact-based educational materials that inspire innovation, share best practices and educate decision-makers on the critical importance of sound, favorable solar policies that will grow the industry; protect clean air; build healthy, resilient communities; support local, well-paying jobs; and lay the foundation for building a strong solar foundation for a 100% clean energy future for Texas, one community at a time.
Operating virtually, TXSES is a membership-based not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our 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 experts to disseminate fact-based, relevant solar information.
TXSES is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and embracing a workplace with diverse voices and perspectives. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status or medical conditions.
ABOUT THE POSITION
TXSES is seeking an experienced, self-motivated, and innovative development expert to provide strategic direction and oversight of the organization’s development operations, including prospect research, corporate and foundation relations, government grants, annual giving, donor, funder and membership stewardship and grant reporting tracking. Reporting to TXSES’s Executive Director, the Director of Development will strengthen and expand TXSES’s fundraising program, which establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships with foundation, government and corporate partners and individual donors. The Director will develop and implement fundraising strategies to support our mission and revenue goals, guided by established metrics. This is a part-time position and is a new staff role in the organization.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Must embrace the mission of TXSES
BA or BS from a regionally-accredited institution
Minimum of five-seven years of progressively responsible development experience, including demonstrated expertise in corporate, foundation and major gift fundraising
Direct experience soliciting funds from individuals, corporations, government and foundations
Proposal writing proficiency, including budget development
Demonstrated passion to mitigate the climate crisis and be part of the clean energy future
Excellent interpersonal communication skills, including discretion and good judgement
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to operate independently in a virtual environment and provide needed self-direction
Demonstrated ability to prioritize, be flexible and work in a collaborative environment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Degree in nonprofit management, philanthropy/development, or public administration from a regionally-accredited institution
Current Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification
Additional training in the field, such as grant writing, prospect research, foundation and corporate giving, government grants
Knowledge of clean energy sector(s) such as solar, energy storage, electric vehicles, wind, energy efficiency, etc. considered a plus
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic oversight
Contribute to goals and tactics in support of TXSES’s Strategic Plan
Develop and implement the annual development plan
Coordinate efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individual, corporate, government and foundation prospects and funders, with the goal of increasing revenue in accordance with the development plan
Work with Executive Director to develop cases for support for proposals and interactions with potential donors and funders
Oversee grant seeking, including researching new opportunities, proposal writing, fundraising database and tracking systems
Manage donor and funder relations and stewardship
Make direct funding appeals/asks
Assist with fundraising special events
TO APPLY
Submit the following materials to pparsons@txses.org with the subject line “Director of Development” no later than February 1, 2022 by 5:00 PM Central:
Cover letter
Resumé, including information on major gifts/grants secured
Contact information for professional references
Example of annual or other fundraising plan(s) you have developed
Sample of a proposal and/or case for support language you authored
The affairs of TXSES are governed by a Board of Directors chosen from its membership. If you are a current member of TXSES or become a member prior to the election, you are eligible to run for the Board and help guide organizational policy to advance our mission:
Equitable access to solar energy for every Texan.
For more than four decades, TXSES has been the pre-eminent statewide organization that develops free thought-leading, independent, fact-based educational materials that inspire innovation, share best practices and educate decision-makers on the critical importance of sound, favorable solar policies that will grow the industry; protect clean air; build healthy, resilient communities; support local, well-paying jobs; and lay the foundation for building a strong solar foundation for a 100% clean energy future for Texas, one community at a time.
New board members will serve two-year terms beginning January 2022. Four at-large board seats are up for election on the December 2021 ballot. More election information and instructions to submit your application can be found here.
To confirm TXSES membership status, contact Pete Parsons, pparsons@txses.net.
The submission deadline for candidates is November 30, 2021. The election will occur during the month of December. Email questions to TXSESelections@gmail.com.
On a personal note, I have found serving on the Board to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. If you have a passion for renewable energy and want to make a difference in these challenging times, please consider running.
Access to clean and affordable energy is an essential part of modern life. Cooking, cleaning, doing homework at night, running the air conditioning in the hot Texas summers, and much more all necessitate reliable energy access. Yet, for many families, these essentials transform into luxuries because they experience what experts refer to as energy poverty or the lack of access to energy services due to high prices or insufficient supply.
Although recent attention has focused on energy poverty, it’s frequently framed as a problem exclusive to the developing world. However, in the U.S., a sizable portion of households struggle to afford their energy needs. Based on data from the Energy Information Agency’s (EIA) 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 11% of households had to keep their homes at unhealthy or unsafe temperature levels, 14% of households received energy service disconnection notices, 22% had to limit spending on necessities to afford their energy bill, and finally, 31% — nearly one in three households — had trouble paying energy bills.1
How is it that such a high percentage of Americans experience energy poverty?
While an important aspect of the answer boils down to the ratio between income and energy costs, there are many reasons why families find it difficult to afford energy costs. According to the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI), housing type and quality as well as inadequate access to energy-efficient technology are other factors that contribute to energy poverty.2
Low-income neighborhoods contain the highest percentages of families experiencing energy poverty. Houses in these neighborhoods typically have sub-standard installation and are often built on “a least initial-cost construction strategy” according to TEPRI. This means that low-income individuals not only have less money to spend, but relative to those in more affluent neighborhoods, the same amount of money doesn’t stretch as far due to energy inefficiencies.
Another study found that stores in low-income neighborhoods are less likely to sell energy-related products like LED light bulbs.3 The high cost of replacing appliances with newer energy-saving alternatives remains prohibitive to people experiencing energy poverty. This creates a confluence of factors that contribute to energy poverty’s prevalence. Moreover, it’s unlikely that people experiencing energy poverty can make quick fixes to reduce the financial strain since that often comes at the cost of making costly improvements or relocating.
Thankfully, governments and community-based organizations have established an increasing number of programs that attempt to remedy these inequities. At the federal level, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the Low-Income Home Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offer some assistance, although critics allege that these programs are underfunded and underutilized. Governments have created programs that attempt to educate consumers on energy-saving behaviors with mixed success. Finally, partnerships with community-based organizations like churches, universities and non-profits have been shown to improve public outreach and program effects.
The role of renewable energy, notably solar, is perhaps one of the most important aspects of the response to energy poverty. The City of Baltimore has demonstrated the potential for solar to serve low-income populations that are most likely to experience energy poverty.4
As the price of distributed solar becomes more affordable, the number of homeowners who can invest in solar increases. Often, government programs are key to making solar viable for low-income homeowners. Additionally, community solar models can dramatically increase the number of people who can share in solar’s benefits. The future involves scaling up these efforts and innovating new ways to make solar accessible to more consumers.
While it may require significant up-front investment to address energy poverty, the cost of doing nothing is even more significant. Currently, nearly one-third of Americans struggle with meeting costs associated with their energy needs. Additional research finds that energy price increases could push thousands more into poverty.
Energy poverty is also associated with poorer health and wellbeing outcomes. According to TEPRI, “high energy burdens are linked to significant negative non-energy effects” including “incidences of increased illness and morbidity, derived from asthma, depression, anxiety, diabetes, stroke, and heart attack have all been attributed to low-income energy burdens.”5
Addressing energy poverty is ultimately a social policy. However, evidence from other countries and existing programs in the United States prove that it’s possible if there is political will. Within the response lies an opportunity to improve the lives of those experiencing energy poverty with renewable energy. Now, it’s up to solar to help lead the way forward.
Jack Maedgen is a junior Government and History major at the University of Texas and an Austin native. He’s been a part of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and The Texas Orator. Jack was an intern for TXSES during the 2021 spring and summer semesters.
Former TXSES intern