The Texas Program Director will lead a dynamic program focused on deploying solar energy across the State of Texas and advocating for strong distributed energy policy at all levels of government. The director will work to implement the EPA Solar for All program in Texas, lead our group purchasing campaigns for rooftop solar, manage innovative projects deploying solar in low-income communities, and guide our solar policy engagement at the Texas Legislature and the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
This position will report directly to the West Region Director.
• TXSES members and donors will receive a Zoom link to attend •
Join us for TXSES’s 2025 Annual Member Meeting! All TXSES members and donors are invited to attend.
As we embark on a new year, we are excited to invite all current TXSES members to come together and join us for our Annual Member Meeting. Executive Director Patrice “Pete” Parsons will lead the meeting, providing updates on TXSES’s activities from 2024 and outlining our ambitious goals for the upcoming year. Representatives from our impressive statewide Local Chapters will also provide updates on their activities.
We are also thrilled to announce a dynamic lineup of guest speakers who will delve into pressing solar issues and legislation both here in Texas and on a national scale. We look forward to seeing you there!
According to our by-laws, only TXSES members can attend our annual meeting.
Keynote:D. Drew Bond, Co-Founder, President & CEO, C3 Solutions (Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions) “What Can We Expect in Solar Energy Policy with the New Administration?“
C3 Solutions is nonpartisan public policy educational organization with a mission to accelerate the acceptance of free-market solutions to the world’s greatest climate, energy and environmental challenges. Drew Bond has decades of experience in the conservative movement and private sector.
In addition to co-founding PowerField Energy Inc., which provides an innovative and affordable solar energy system ideal for rural agriculture and emerging market applications, he served as a Senior Advisor for President George W. Bush at the U.S. Department of Energy, Chief of Staff at The Heritage Foundation under Ed Feulner, Senior Fellow and Director for Energy Innovation at the American Council of Capital Formation, Chief of Staff to former Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode and as a Legislative Assistant to former U.S. Senator Don Nickles from Oklahoma. Bond also served as Vice President at Battelle for Energy & Environment Public Policy & Technology Commercialization.
Matthew Boms, Executive Director, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA) “Texas Legislative Landscape: An Overview of Renewables and Solar“
TAEBA’s Matthew Boms will give us an overview of how renewables and solar will fare in Texas’s 89th Legislature.
Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance is an alliance of businesses, including local and national advanced energy companies, that advocates for policies and programs that support the growth and innovation of the advanced energy industry in Texas. Matthew Boms also currently serves on the Texas Backup Power Package (TBPP) Advisory Committee, as well as the Aggregated Distributed Energy Resource (ADER) Task Force, where he contributes to the development of solutions and strategies for enhancing the resilience and reliability of the Texas electric grid.
Luke Metzger, Executive Director, Environment Texas “Solar Energy Legislation: Key Bills You Need to Know this Session“
Luke Metzger will discuss the specific bills related to solar submitted so far to Texas’s 89th Legislature.
Environment Texas is a policy and action group with a mission to build a greener, healthier world. Metzger is one of the most energetic and dedicated defenders of environmental issues in the state, and a leading voice for clean air and water, parks and wildlife. He recently led the successful campaign to get the Texas Legislature and voters to invest $1 billion to buy land for new state parks.
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is seeking a Policy & Advocacy Campaigner to advance solar energy in Texas and several states across the U.S.
This position will focus on helping SUN build a large, impactful, and engaged solar citizen activist movement. In collaboration with respective state teams, the Campaigner will help develop, carry out, and support state (and selective federal) legislative and regulatory campaigns to advance and defend equitable access to distributed solar power.
* The West Region Policy & Advocacy Campaigner will support SUN programs in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada and Texas.
EarthShare Texas unites the voices of our member environmental organizations across Texas, empowering our community to protect and care for our natural resources. We work collaboratively to build connections, support, impactful initiatives, building connections, supporting impactful initiatives and driving forward the environmental movement in Texas. Join us and make a meaningful difference in our state!
Vision A collaborative alliance of environmental organizations, public institutions, and businesses conserving and sustaining a healthy environment for all Texans.
Mission Through collaborative fundraising and partnership building, EarthShare Texas empowers mission-driven members to pursue positive environmental and health impacts across the Lone Star State for the benefit of all
Position Summary
EarthShare Texas seeks an experienced, dynamic, and visionary Executive Director to lead the organization through its next phase of growth and impact. The Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, operations, and fundraising efforts of EarthShare Texas, ensuring the organization’s mission is carried out effectively and sustainably. This is a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with nonprofits, businesses, and communities to advance environmental stewardship across Texas. There is an expectation that this position will have frequent interactions, in person, with staff in the Austin office, and some needed travel throughout the state to meet with funders, partners, and members.
In each Solar Report newsletter, we feature one of our esteemed Platinum Business Members with an exclusive interview. This month, TXSES Communications Director Tamara Kowalski reached out to Solar CenTexCEO Howard “Scot” Arey—past member of the TXSES Board of Directors and active long-term supporter—to delve into the company’s mission, accomplishments, and its impacts on its Central Texas customers.
Origins and Leadership
I started this company in 2013 after I retired from the Army following a 25-year career. I knew that energy would be important to Texas and that solar would be part of the solution. I had a brief stint working for Mission Solar, when it was named Nexolon America, as their plant was being built in San Antonio. That helped me understand what Solar CenTex needed to do to be successful.
Mission and Vision
Our core focus is to provide reliable, value-adding solar systems with the necessary support after the sale. It’s the after-sale support that we have learned is the most important aspect of our work.
Approach to Projects
We focus on residential and rural projects. Our “resi” customers are mostly alike, but not always; they want to save money month to month. Our rural ranch owners have different reasons for installing solar so the first question we ask nearly all is, “why do you want solar?” Some think it’s a silly question, but the answers typically go in several directions.
For some, it is long-term savings, and they see this as an investment to save money. For many, it is distrust of the Texas grid; Uri has left a lasting impression on many and they never want to go through an extended outage again. More and more, we see people who want to keep what they produce because they hear “the utility doesn’t pay you anything for your excess solar.” It’s not quite “nothing” but as many reimburse at a low “avoided cost” we have customers who recognize that batteries enable energy management to store and use what they produce. Finally, we get some who just want to do their part for the environment, and they see their solar contributing to a better environment for Texas. In fact, many who do install solar know that no matter their primary motivation, this is just better for the environment.
Career Impact
The last economic slowdown and the rise in interest rates has been the toughest. We’ve been through several drops and rises on the “solar-coaster” but this last Covid and post-Covid slowdown really leaned us to operate as efficiently as possible and focus on customer needs versus my personal objectives. So many installers went out of business—some deservedly, some not—and that has left a trail of unsupported solar owners who now need a reliable support partner. We see this as central to our company mission today.
Key Accomplishments
It’s regional, but earning the “Best of” from our Killeen Daily Herald means much to me because that means local fellow citizens are voting for us. But my favorite projects have been the off-grid systems. Not many are really suited for true off-grid but we did one in the Hill Country that I secretly yearn to have as my own personal home. They’ve been fully off the grid for 8+ years. It’s really possible, even in Texas.
Industry Surprises and Dynamics
Finding qualified installers. I wish I had done more to support local workforce development and training but even then, having in-house training is essential.
Challenges Faced
Finding skilled, trained installers and electricians has been the top challenge, by far.
Future Outlook
We’ll continue to be conservative in our growth strategy and maintain our focus on Central Texas. Having watched so many try to grow as fast as possible and be all things to all people, I’ve learned that growth for growth’s sake does not necessarily translate to better supported customers. Energy storage will be part of all we do going forward because it unlocks the full potential of solar.
Final Thoughts
I’ve been involved with the Texas Solar Energy Society for over a decade by either serving on its board or being a faithful supporter and follower. I hope all members of our industry recognize that there are forces that influence Texas legislators to be “anti-renewable” but that Texas needs every bit of energy it can produce, whether it be from your roof, a natural gas plant, or a wind farm. So, it is the obligation of every solar installer to make sure their projects are done right and generate not just lots of kilowatt-hours but hundreds and thousands of solar owners who tell their legislators to make solar as easy as possible to adopt in Texas.
Interested in becoming a TXSES Platinum Business Member?Contact Patrice “Pete” Parsons at pparsons@txses.org for details about membership perks, requirements, and how your company can become involved in TXSES’s vibrant community. Whether you’re seeking exclusive benefits or opportunities for collaboration, she can guide you through the process and address any inquiries you may have.
