Jan 30, 2025 | Solar News of Note
Austin Energy has launched a new solar program that is the first of it’s kind in the industry. The Solar Standard Offer Program will let commercial customers lease out their rooftops and/or parking lots for solar installations—at no cost to themselves—and to be compensated for the solar power generated.
The program will allow property owners who might not otherwise have the finances, credit or possibly just not the interest to invest in solar themselves, to receive the benefits of solar. Participating solar contractors will finance, install and maintain the solar systems, and Austin Energy will purchase the energy produced at a set rate. System capacity must be between 50 kW and 10 megawatts.
The energy produced supports Austin Energy’s Community Solar Program, which offers renewable energy to residential customers, including low-income customers who participate in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP). The program contributes to the AE’s climate, affordability, and energy sustainability goals.
Program Participants
- System Host: An existing Austin Energy commercial customer willing to host a community solar project on their property.
- System Owner: Either the system host or a third party that leases space from the system host to install and operate a solar system for the Community Solar program.
- Participating Solar Contractor: The solar installation company applying for permits and installs the solar system.
Applications opened on January 14th. See more details and apply:
Phase Two: Residential & Small Commercial Installations
The program is already preparing to expand! On Wednesday, January 29, Austin Energy hosted the first in a series of stakeholder meetings to develop this expansion to include small commercial and residential installations.
- You can watch a recording of the meeting on YouTube.
At least two more stakeholder meetings will be held regarding this topic:
Check back here and on our social media for updates on future meetings.
Dec 18, 2024 | Job Board
Location: Texas (Hybrid – Headquarters in Austin, with periodic travel across Texas)
About EarthShare 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.
Dec 13, 2024 | Txses Impact
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 CenTex CEO 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.
Dec 12, 2024 | Txses Impact
Reflecting back on 2024, it has been a busy year full of change, promise and accomplishment for TXSES. Our fearless leader, Patrice “Pete” Parsons, has her hands in so many amazing projects at once, that our heads spin and it’s hard to understand how she does it all. From staffing changes, to events and conferences, policy work with our Business Members, and projects, projects, projects, we have done it all this year.
Jane Pulaski, our fantastic Director of Communications since 2020, retired from TXSES in April. Before leaving, she brought Tamara Kowalski on to carry the torch. Marketing & Outreach Coordinator Steven Ugalde left as well as long-time TXSES Research Associate Ethan Miller, who finished graduate school at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin last Spring and now works as a legislative director in the Texas House of Representatives. Data Research Analyst and Technical Advisor intern Mohammad Alkhatib now works as a tech analyst with our partner organization, TEPRI (Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute). In September, we were thrilled to bring on current intern & research analyst, Elle Nicholson, a sophomore at UT Austin majoring in philosophy, with plans to pursue a career in international environmental law.
The TXSES Board of Directors also brought on John Hall of HARC (Houston Advanced Research Center) for a special one-year appointment, and Alison Silverstein, who replaced outgoing member Karl Rabago at the end of this three-year term.
Activities
In November, TXSES was a Local Event Partner for the inaugural Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) Texas Regional Conference. Executive Director Patrice “Pete” Parsons opened the event and moderated several panels.
Patrice “Pete” Parsons also spoke at and/or moderated other conferences throughout the year, including the Texas Clean Energy Summit in San Antonio in September. Steven Ugalde and Tamara Kowalski represented TXSES at RE+ Texas in Houston in May.
In July, TXSES was honored with a “TXSES Day at the Race” on July 15th at the 28th Annual Solar Car Challenge at the Texas Motor Speedway, in Ft. Worth. Patrice “Pete” Parsons welcomed the crowd and waved the start flag to begin the day’s races.
We are proud to be a part of the Texas Solar for All Coalition, which was awarded nearly $250 million in grant funding on Earth Day to deliver residential solar to more than 46,000 low-income and disadvantaged communities and households across Texas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant will accelerate investment in clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, close the solar equity gap, and create green jobs.
In addition, we have been working with our TXSES Business Member steering committees, legislators in the Texas Legislature, the Public Utilities Commissions of Texas (PUC), and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to tackle issues associated with:
Highlights of Our Accomplishments in 2024
- Commissioned the Value of Residential Solar in Texas study, released in July with the Texans for Local Energy Freedom Coalition, to determine the actual amount of money utilities should be reimbursing rooftop solar owners to offset the cost of solar they are feeding back into the grid.
- Solar policy education and outreach to elected officials and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, including developing suggested language for new PUC rules on interconnection issues (see On the Horizon: Streamlined Regulation for Small-Scale Solar), as well as on fair market rates for solar customers based on our Value of Residential Solar in Texas study.
- Prepared for the upcoming legislative session by creating several state-wide stakeholder steering committees to determine next steps for:
- Protecting consumers from unethical solar salespeople (potentially by licensing through TDLR and possible new legislation) and from consumer loan obligations for incorrectly installed systems; and
- Streamlining municipal solar permitting processes by proposing additional language to bills already submitted that would require municipal use of the SolarApp+ platform or similar.
- Continued planning for Austin pilot project, “New Pathways for Equitable Rooftop Solar in Texas,” which will install 10 small (3 kilowatt) solar electric systems for income-qualified homeowners in Austin; in partnership with Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, Frontier Energy; supported by Austin Energy through a mix of grant and rebate program funding.
- Provided solar installation training for underserved high school students and low-income or hard-to-employ adults in Dallas, Houston and Austin, to prepare them for careers in clean energy; in partnership with Green Careers Texas and with funding from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.
- Working to bring a solar array to the Community First! Village in Austin, in order to provide free electricity to more than 370 formerly unhoused neighbors, in cooperation with Austin Energy.
Dec 5, 2024 | Txses Impact
Enthusiastic reception and onsite engagement at inaugural event underscores momentum and opportunity within the state
PORTLAND, ME and AUSTIN, TX: Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA), the premier tradeshow and conference for solar + storage professionals, last week staged its first regional event in Austin, Texas. The inaugural edition brought together more than 600 solar, storage, EV infrastructure, and manufacturing professionals, along with state legislators, regulators, and policy makers.
“We are thrilled with the energy at our first regional event in Texas,” said Wes Doane, Vice President, Intersolar & Energy Storage North America. “Our goal for IESNA Texas was to deliver Texas-specific insights and business opportunities to solar and storage professionals. It was gratifying to see connections being made that will help accelerate the clean energy industry in Texas and beyond. We look forward to continuing the momentum with our next edition of IESNA Texas on November 18-19, 2025 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.”
2024 Event Overview
- 60 Speakers delivered three keynote and 16 conference sessions, offering timely and valuable insights into state topics, trends, and innovations. Highlights included:
- Thomas Gleeson (Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas) discussed meeting the state’s growth in energy demand and the need for grid resilience.
- Doug Lewin (Stoic Energy), Beth Garza (R Street Institute), and Caitlin Smith (Jupiter Power) explored several topics, including the grid impact of data center growth, how energy storage helped tackle peak summer demand, and more.
- Well-attended conference sessions that focused on the value of distributed energy resources (including technology advancements and cost declines)—as well as the challenges of interconnection and the need for policy reform and market signal consistency.
- 41 Exhibiting companies (spanning inverters, battery management systems, solar cells and modules, grid services, racking systems, and more), including APsystems, EndurEnergy Systems, EnergyScape Renewables, Novasys Greenergy, TorcSill Foundations, Solarpanelrecycling.com, and Yotta Energy—as well as prominent Texas-based associations Texas Solar Energy Society and Texas Solar Power Association.
- A lively Launch Party, relaxing Brain Break Lounge sponsored by Smart Energy Decisions, dynamic “Ask the Experts” lunch, and much more.
Plan for 2025
About Intersolar & Energy Storage North America
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America is the premier US-based conference and trade show focused on solar, energy storage, EV charging infrastructure, and manufacturing. Dedicated to accelerating the energy transition, IESNA events deliver insightful education, invaluable networking, and an immersive exhibit hall experience. The flagship event takes place February 25-27, 2025, in San Diego, California; the next regional event takes place November 18-19, 2025, in Grapevine, Texas. To learn more, visit Intersolar.us.
About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications is a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA, with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third-generation, family-owned business. Learn more: Divcom.com.
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Media Contact:
Antenna Group for IESNA
IESNA@antennagroup.com
