May 28, 2025 | Job Board
The Texas Solar for All Program Manager will lead SUN’s implementation of the Solar for All (SFA) program, part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Green House Gas Reduction Fund program. The Program Manager will work with the Texas SFA coalition team and other SUN staff to implement an equitable solar access program throughout Texas, including the deployment of distributed solar and storage for low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDAC).
It also includes providing technical assistance to coalition partners. This person will be key to unlocking equitable solar energy access for low-income communities. This role includes leading SUN’s strategic deployment and execution of the program, coordinating with partners, and overseeing the installation of various projects including thirty residential “Hub Homes” and three “Resilience Centers” across a 5-year period.
This position reports to the Texas Program Director.
This is a grant-funded 2-year position, with the possibility of extension beyond the grant period.
How to apply: If you think this job might be for you, please apply on SUN’s job board. Please include a resume with your application. A cover letter is optional; however, it can be a helpful way for you to communicate your fitness for the position if you think that may not be obvious from your resume.
Benefits
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401K with company match
• Flexible work schedule
• Paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Paid time off
• Phone/Internet Stipend
Culture
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit that started more than 15 years ago with a simple question. “Mom, can we go solar?” Since then, we’ve helped tens of thousands of people benefit from solar energy. We are dedicated to creating a clean, equitable, resilient energy system that benefits everyone – by helping people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
SUN welcomes candidates of diverse backgrounds and experience to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with a non-traditional education. We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred qualification, we still encourage you to apply.
May 21, 2025 | Txses Impact
By Raina Hornaday.
Agrivoltaics—the practice of using land for both solar energy generation and agricultural production—is gaining momentum in Texas as a win-win strategy for sustainable development. As the Lone Star State grapples with rapid population growth, rising energy demand, and the ongoing loss of farmland, agrivoltaics presents a compelling vision: why choose between solar and agriculture when you can do both on the same acres?
American Farmland Trust: Defining and Advancing Agrivoltaics
The American Farmland Trust (AFT) is leading national efforts to define and implement agrivoltaics in ways that work for both farmers and energy developers. According to AFT, a true agrivoltaic system is a ground-mounted photovoltaic array that is intentionally planned and designed with input from agricultural producers or experts to support the simultaneous production of solar energy and marketable agricultural goods throughout the full life of the array—typically 30 to 40+ years.
AFT’s Smart Solar principles call for prioritizing development on built or marginal lands, conserving high-value farmland, and scaling agrivoltaics to help keep working lands productive. Their policy recommendations emphasize the need for clear, farm-centered definitions in state and federal incentive programs, technical assistance for producers, and meaningful community engagement to ensure that agrivoltaics serves both the energy and agricultural sectors.
Solar Grazing: The Texas Model
One of the most tangible examples of agrivoltaics in action is solar grazing—using flocks of sheep to manage vegetation at solar farms. This practice is booming in Texas. Thousands of sheep have been deployed across solar farms as a sustainable alternative to gas-powered mowers and chemical herbicides. Sheep are exceptionally well-suited for this role—they can graze safely beneath and around solar panels without causing damage, while also reducing wildfire risk and naturally enhancing soil health through fertilization and aeration.
For landowners, agrivoltaics creates valuable new revenue streams—lease payments from solar developers, grazing contracts, and continued agricultural production on the same land. As one Texas rancher shared, “We’re not losing anything… we’re just doing it differently.” This dual-use model helps “drought-proof” and “market-proof” farm income, offering economic resilience for rural communities.
Research and Land Management
Incorporating agrivoltaics in utility-scale solar emphasizes biodiversity, long-term stewardship, and community collaboration—working closely with landowners to ensure each project is a good neighbor. Meanwhile, academic research demonstrates that agrivoltaics can reduce land-use conflict, increase water retention, and even boost crop yields—particularly in arid and semi-arid areas like much of Texas.
Policy: Oklahoma’s Agrivoltaics Act
Oklahoma is now charting its own path with the first proposed legislation in the country. The Oklahoma Agrivoltaics Act (HB 2157), currently in conference committee, seeks to align renewable energy development with agricultural productivity. The bill would establish a 17-member Agrivoltaics Advisory Committee—including representatives from agriculture, renewable energy, Tribal governments, and forestry—to guide policy and best practices.
The legislation acknowledges that agrivoltaics can enhance agricultural productivity, particularly in dry regions where photovoltaic shading improves soil health and reduces water loss. Oklahoma, with its vast agricultural landscape and expanding solar industry, is well-positioned to benefit from this integrated approach.
Together, Texas and Oklahoma are modeling how states with deep agricultural roots and strong energy ambitions can create smart, sustainable policies that promote dual-use land strategies.
The Big Picture: Texas at the Agrivoltaic Frontier
With vast solar potential, a thriving agricultural economy, and trailblazing efforts like those at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas is poised to become a national leader in agrivoltaics—provided policy support and public engagement continue to grow. The benefits are broad: economically, agrivoltaics reduces operating costs and diversifies rural income; environmentally, it improves soil health, reduces emissions, conserves water, and enhances biodiversity; operationally, it supports vegetation management, mitigates wildfire risk, and improves community perception of solar projects by preserving working lands.
As interest in agrivoltaics accelerates, strong collaboration between the energy and agriculture sectors—bolstered by academic research, responsive policy, and grassroots leadership—will be essential. Texas has a unique opportunity to show the world how to harvest the sun twice: once for clean power, and once for productive, resilient agriculture.
Education on Agrivoltaics: CleanTX and Solar Austin
In celebration of Earth Day, CleanTX and TXSES local chapter Solar Austin, co-hosted an educational event in Austin that brought together solar professionals, ranchers, advocates, and researchers. The program featured a solar sheep rancher, an operations and maintenance director, a local agrivoltaics installer, and a PhD student who wrote his dissertation on the topic. Together, they offered a holistic perspective on the promise and challenges of agrivoltaics in Texas.
Raina Hornaday is a Texas Solar Energy Society board member, a fifth-generation rancher, and an advocate for renewable sustainable land use in Texas.
Photo by Jeff Peterson of Pastoral Solar Land in San Saba; sheep and solar panels on a farm in Bastrop County, Texas
May 21, 2025 | Txses Impact
In each Solar Report newsletter, we feature one of our highly regarded Platinum Business Members with an exclusive interview. This month, TXSES Communications Director Tamara Kowalski reached out to Big Sun Solar‘s Co-founder and President Jason Pittman to learn about the company’s mission, accomplishments, and impacts on customers.
Origins and Leadership
Big Sun Solar was founded in San Antonio with the belief that solar energy should be accessible, impactful, and tailored to the communities it serves. My own path into the solar industry started with a background in sustainable development and a passion for practical climate solutions. I was drawn to solar because of its unique power to democratize energy and create resilience at the local level. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to work on projects ranging from residential rooftops to utility-scale installations, and today I help lead Big Sun’s efforts to deliver reliable solar and storage systems across Texas.
Mission and Vision
Our mission is to deliver clean, reliable solar energy that strengthens communities and supports a more resilient grid. We’re especially focused on commercial, public-serving, and multifamily clients—bringing solar to people who have traditionally been left out of the clean energy transition. Our vision is a Texas where solar is not just a technology, but a cornerstone of economic opportunity and environmental responsibility.
Approach to Projects
We take a full-service, community-first approach. Whether it’s a municipal client, a private equity firm investing in solar for affordable housing, or a utility launching a community solar program, we tailor our engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to meet real-world needs. We self-perform construction with local crews, design systems for long-term performance, and ensure every project contributes to grid resiliency and customer savings.
Career Impact
Helping launch the City of San Antonio’s onsite solar program has had a profound impact on me. Working closely with city departments to deploy solar across libraries, community centers, and public facilities showed me how clean energy can directly serve residents while advancing broader Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) goals. It was a clear example of policy translating into real, visible progress—and it reinforced the importance of aligning solar deployment with local climate leadership.
Key Accomplishments
I’m especially proud of our role in delivering solar for public entities and mission-driven clients—whether it’s local governments, housing authorities, or nonprofit partners. These projects often require complex coordination and long timelines, but they have the most tangible community impact. Seeing kids walk under a solar carport at a neighborhood library or knowing that a housing complex has access to more stable electricity pricing—that’s what drives us.
Industry Surprises and Dynamics
How local everything is. From permitting to utility interconnection, to how trenching works on a given site—every project has its own personality. Also, how much of success depends on relationships: with clients, city officials, suppliers, and the communities we serve.
Challenges Faced
Navigating the policy and regulatory shifts at both the state and federal level has been a challenge. From net metering uncertainty to Buy America provisions and tax credit requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act, staying nimble and informed has been key to keeping projects moving.
Unique Contributions or Initiatives
We’re proud to be a local EPC that doesn’t just subcontract the work—we train and employ local labor, many from underserved communities. We’re also investing in workforce development programs and partnerships with local schools and nonprofits to create long-term career pathways in clean energy.
Future Outlook
We’re expanding our reach across Texas, especially into multifamily housing, public infrastructure, and energy storage. The next frontier is integrating solar with smart load management and AI-driven dispatch, so our systems aren’t just clean—they’re intelligent, adaptive assets for the grid.
Final Thoughts
Texas is often seen as an oil and gas state, but we see it as a solar state in the making. We’re honored to be part of that transformation, building a future where clean energy is local, resilient, and shared by all.
Apr 1, 2025 | Job Board
The Solar Installation and Education Program Coordinator will require basic technical
knowledge of solar installations, a commitment to community education, and solar policy
knowledge. This person will be instrumental in ensuring that Solar Austin meets our grant
deliverables and can continue growing our positive impact on the community.
Coordinating Donated Solar Installations & Donated Equipment (50%):
● Oversee and manage all aspects of distributed solar projects from initiation to
completion, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and grant deliverables.
● Identify companies to do solar installations, at a reduced rate or as a donation
whenever possible.
● Utilize donated solar panels for installations (and inverters whenever possible).
● Procure all other needed equipment, securing donations whenever possible.
● Coordinate with non-profit partners, contractors, volunteers, and suppliers to ensure
efficient project execution. This will include working with a contractor and possibly a
volunteer responsible for developing detailed project plans.
● Be familiar with all necessary paperwork for permitting, interconnection, and
obtaining incentives.
● Be on-site during installations to monitor and document progress and address any
issues or concerns.
● Manage project budgets, track expenses, and prepare cost reports for each project.
● Plan and execute at least one educational community event at each donated
installation site.
● Document and promote donated installations via social media, Solar Austin’s
website, and external media outlets.
● Maintain effective communication with internal and external stakeholders (including
the Solar Austin Board of Directors), regularly updating project status, milestones,
and potential risks for projects.
Solar Education (40%):
● Source, develop, and maintain factsheets and online resources with information
about the process for installing customer-sited solar and batteries in Austin and
available local, state, and federal incentives for solar and batteries.
● Educate local nonprofits and residents on the benefits of solar and how to access
federal, state and local incentives to assist with customer-sited solar and batteries.
This will include webinars, events, private meetings, and other outreach strategies.
● Assist local nonprofits and residents with the process of accessing local, state and
federal incentives.
● Promote distributed solar via social media, Solar Austin’s website, and external media
outlets.
General (10%):
● Conduct research, surveys, and analysis supporting Solar Austin’s Solar goals.
● Support programmatic fundraising activities and grant applications by providing
budgets and project descriptions.
● Identify and build relationships with key stakeholders and partners throughout the
region, including educational partners, business leaders, nonprofit leaders, and
government employees and leaders, as time permits.
● Represent Solar Austin at local events and meetings.
● Help advocate for needed local, state or federal policy or program changes, as
required.
● Attend monthly Solar Austin board meetings and committee meetings to report on
work and coordinate with the board.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience, and Qualities for this Role:
Required:
● Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Managing and prioritizing multiple
projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines is essential.
● Passion and enthusiasm for solar energy, mitigating climate change, and promoting
equitable access to solar, in alignment with Solar Austin’s mission.
● Experience managing a program or projects in a non-profit, government, education,
private business, or organized labor setting.
● Experience running in-person events.
● Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively across diverse backgrounds and
sectors.
● Experience running remote meetings and webinars.
● Strong problem-solving skills.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
● Ability to work independently and with a geographically distributed team to meet
deadlines.
● Willingness to be flexible, adapt to new technologies, learn, and shift course as needs
arise.
● Willingness to foster a positive and collaborative work environment at Solar Austin,
promoting teamwork, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Preferred:
● Familiarity with energy policy and the technical aspects of solar photovoltaics (PV)
systems and batteries.
● Understanding of distributed energy resources (DER), interconnection processes, and
permitting requirements.
● Educational background in environmental studies, public policy, sustainability, or
another related field.
● 1-2 years of project management experience.
● Demonstrated leadership experience.
● Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).
Other Requirements:
● Must live in the Austin area.
● Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
● Ability to travel locally to project sites and events.
● Comfortable working outdoors during installations.
Salary:
$60-70,000/year (depending on experience).
This is a contract, grant-contingent position.
To Apply:
Email your resume and a cover letter to info@solaraustin.org.
Feb 24, 2025 | Resources
These resources, compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), cover a wide variety of topics, from the process of choosing and installing a solar energy system, to understanding how it impacts the value of a home. Learn more below.
Learn how to save on solar and review federal solar tax credit resources.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports research & development to harness America’s abundant solar energy for secure, affordable, and reliable solar energy.
Learn more about SETO’s work at their events and webinars.
