CONTACT INFORMATION Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons 210.722.7270
[AUSTIN, Texas, March 28, 2024] The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) is pleased to announce the addition of Tamara Kowalski as its new Director of Communications.
Tamara joins TXSES with more 15 years of experience working with environmental nonprofits—much of which has been in communications. Before TXSES, Tamara worked as communications and program manager at another membership-based EarthShare Texas member organization, State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR).
“As someone who is passionate about solar energy, with solar panels on my home, my experience in communications and outreach, writing and editing, working on grants, and collaborating with regional chapters will make me a valuable asset to TXSES,” said Tamara.
“We are thrilled to have Tamara join the TXSES team,” said Executive Director Pete Parsons.“ “Her skill and experience with non-profits and personal commitment to solar energy will enhance our operations, help meet our goals for growth and customer satisfaction and provide our customers with the exemplary service they have come to expect from TXSES.”
Tamara will replace Jane Pulaski who has been TXSES’ communications director since 2020.
About TXSES: A membership-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization for nearly 40 years, TXSES’s 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 30 million+ citizens, enables our gifted, dedicated members to disseminate fact-based, relevant solar information to all Texans. www.txses.org
by Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons, TXSES Executive Director
According to a recent Forbes article, nearly 90% Of Americans couldn’t be more ecstatic about their rooftop solar system. In fact, some 83% of those homeowners are raving to friends and family about how happy they are. They installed them for a variety of reasons: energy independence (with batteries); cost savings; environmental concerns. You might even know some of these people. You might even be one of them.
But for those who don’t or who might be in the market for rooftop solar, it’s caveat emptor (buyer beware). The onus is on YOU, the consumer, to do due diligence before you buy. The decreasing costs of solar panels have made them increasingly affordable.
And because the decreasing cost of solar panels is making them more affordable, solar scams are becoming more prevalent nationally and here at home. Currently, the Texas distributed solar industry is experiencing consumer fraud. There have been many reports of uninformed consumers conned into buying systems they can’t afford, promised pie-in-the-sky results: no electric bills! Free electricity! The adage if it’s too good to be true comes to mind, pay attention. It probably is.
As TXSES is the state’s only non-profit that promotes distributed solar, we require all TXSES business members to sign a code of conduct and ethical requirements. We believe this practice creates an environment with values that reflect honest, ethical business principles and rules of behavior that are consistent with TXSES organizationally, contributing to the welfare of all our stakeholders, and respecting the rights of all constituents affected by our work.
We’re very much aware of nefarious practices by some solar salespeople. You can trust TXSES business members to be professional and install all equipment safely and in compliance with all applicable rules, laws and regulations. We’ve got resources for consumers who are interested in going solar on the TXSES website. And check out the the SEIA Instagram post below for more timely information about consumer confidence when shopping for solar.
I’ve also been meeting with stakeholders and other statewide nonprofits to address this situation and we’re committed to developing solutions that will guarantee consumer confidence in solar rooftop installations.
If you’re interested in becoming a TXSES business member, contact Steven Ùgalde at sugalde@txses.org
On a personal note, I want to bid a heartfelt adieu to a great friend and colleague, Jane Pulaski, who has decided to retire…again. She’s been TXSES’ Director of Communications since I became Executive Director of TXSES in 2020. In that time, she’s worked tirelessly to help me build upon Lucy Stolzenberg’s legacy by writing grants, updating the website, developing newsletters and anything else I needed help with. In the beginning, it was just the two of us. When I say I could not have done my job without her, I mean it. We woke up each day and proceeded to set our hair on fire with all the work we wanted to accomplish. I can speak for the rest of the team when I say we’ll miss her. Thanks for everything, JP.
As a benefit of being a TXSES Platinum Business Member, we highlight the member’s company in our newsletter. For the March newsletter, we sat down with Kevin Chavez, operations officer/manager of Holt Renewables, an engineering, procurement and construction firm for commercial solar projects nationwide. Here’s our conversation.
Steven Ugalde: Hi Kevin. Thanks for carving out time to talk about Holt Renewables. Tell us about Holt Renewables came to be; how long has it been around?
Kevin Chavez: Absolutely. Our journey began over 12 years ago when Holt Renewables emerged through an acquisition. Before that, we operated under the name PCI Solar, maintaining the same team, business methodology, and services. About four years ago, Holt Caterpillar, a previous customer, recognized the potential to diversify its offerings and ultimately acquired us. Peter and Corinna Holt, the brains behind Holt Caterpillar, had a forward-thinking approach towards energy, especially electrification and renewables. Their vision aligned perfectly with ours, leading to the acquisition.
Steven Ugalde: And timely. Holt is Houston-based?
Kevin Chavez: Actually, we’re located in Austin. While Holt Renewables is based in Austin, Holt Caterpillar’s headquarters are in San Antonio, but we operate around 30 different locations. There are about 3,500 of us Holt Renewables employees. Within the renewables group, there are 28 departments including construction, engineering, procurement, estimating, sales and development, back-office operations, and safety.
Steven Ugalde: Could you share a standout moment or project that you found particularly fulfilling?
Kevin Chavez: While every project has its unique qualities, what truly stands out for us is the ability to effectively serve our customers nationwide. We specialize in the Middle Market C segment, typically ranging from 500 kW to 30 megawatts. Our portfolio includes diverse applications such as carports, roof mounts, ground mounts and energy storage. Deploying energy storage, especially in the evolving landscape of renewable energy, has been particularly rewarding for us.
Steven Ugalde: What drives Holt Renewables’ approach to future projects?
Kevin Chavez: Our primary focus is alignment with our customers’ needs and goals. Whether it’s sustainability, economics or marketing, we strive to tailor each project accordingly. We provide comprehensive consultation and feasibility studies to ensure that every aspect aligns with our clients’ objectives.
Steven Ugalde: How do you evaluate the success of a project?
Kevin Chavez: Safety is paramount for us, ensuring no incidents occur during project execution. Additionally, success is measured by tangible outcomes and client satisfaction. We conduct thorough surveys post-project completion, and our track record speaks for itself—no negative feedback so far.
Steven Ugalde: What inspired you to pursue a career in solar and renewable energy?
Kevin Chavez: My background in finance led me to understand the potential of renewable energy investments. However, I yearned for a more hands-on role where I could witness more results. Joining PCI Solar as part of the development team allowed me to see projects come to life from concept to construction. The subsequent acquisition by Holt Renewables further solidified my commitment to this industry.
Steven Ugalde: Lastly, what has surprised you the most in your experience within this industry?
Kevin Chavez: One of the most surprising aspects has been the continued momentum and innovation within the industry, despite regulatory challenges. There’s a growing recognition of the need for renewable energy solutions, and we’re witnessing increased investment and research to address this demand. While there are hurdles to overcome, I’m optimistic about the industry’s trajectory.
Steven Ugalde: Thank you for sharing your insights, Kevin. And thanks for being a TXSES Platinum Business Member.
Kevin Chavez: My pleasure. Thank you for having me.
The Solar Cowboys 205A Executive Way Desoto, Texas 75115 469.399.0009 TECL# 36304
Job Description: The purpose of this position is to provide support to The Solar Cowboys by handling any customer-facing interactions as well as represent our core values to anyone outside the organization. This position will require interfacing with the customers, handling inbound/outbound communications, and working with the sales and operations teams to ensure the needs of the customers are met in a timely manner. You will need to answer questions, handle complaints and provide support for customers with attention to detail.
Responsibilities:
● Complete welcome calls and project completion calls
● Schedule site surveys, installations, follow-up appointments, and inspections
● Handle any customer service calls with existing customers
● Create tickets for service calls if needed
● Diffuse any high-stress situations with customers
● Answer any inbound calls and notate them appropriately Skills:
● Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite
● Keen attention to detail and the ability to spot errors and inconsistencies
● Must have the ability to multitask, handle interruptions & prioritize workloads
● Must have strong verbal and written communication skills
● Must be able to take direction and work independently
● Willingness to learn; adapt and accept increased responsibility
● Must be responsible, self-motivated, and able to work effectively in a team setting
● The ability to embrace corporate values, understands the company mission, and execute daily tasks to reach larger goals
Contact Casey Sprunck, Operations Manager, The Solar Cowboys, 469.399.0009
By Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons Executive Director, TXSES
Last weekend, I had the privilege of sharing our work at the annual/monthly meeting of the North Texas Renewable Energy Group (NTREG), one of our sister state chapters. As I began to put a presentation together to share what we’re doing, I quickly realized just how busy we are. And it’s only February! Good thing the weather has been so spectacular. Perhaps I shouldn’t say that…
To give you an idea of what’s keeping us busy, take a peek:
The promotion of Infinite Power: Take Your Share of the Texas Sun, our statewide educational campaign to raise awareness and double the amount of distributed solar in Texas by 2030 via media, social media, events, and unrelenting advocacy for distributed solar by one-on-one engagements with decision-makers.
We’re spreading the word to municipalities’ permitting departments about Solar APP+(Solar Automated Permit Processing), a free, innovative software that speeds up compliance checks and building permit approvals for eligible solar rooftop systems.
Working with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) last year, TXSES along with TEPRI and Frontier Energy, we were successful in adding distributed solar as a fundable energy benefit to the statewide plan for income-qualified homeowners and renters using WAP or LIHEAP funds. This year, we’ll be working with Austin Energy, the municipal utility, to prove the energy savings on 10 homes so we can take the program statewide.
We’re reaching out to developers across the State to promote to implement net zero subdivisions.
With a grant from the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), we’re partnering with Green Careers Texas on solar training and education of low-income Dallas, Austin and Houston individuals and high school students in rooftop and ground mount solar PV installations.
To address unethical and discriminatory business practices from solar sales and solar installation companies, we’re working with different partners to develop possible legislative language to begin to educate decision-makers at the state and local levels prior to the 2025 legislative session.
Tracking regulatory bodies like the PUC to provide relevant comments on targeted dockets.
It’s an ambitious list, but we love what we do. If any of these issues are of interest to you and you want to know more or get involved, there’s plenty of room for you! Reach out to me at pparsons@txses.org. Thanks, as always, for your support.
By Steven Ùgalde Membership & Marketing Outreach Coordinator
As a benefit of being a TXSES Platinum Business Member, we highlight the member’s company in our newsletter. This month, we sat down with Nicholas Manto, founder/CEO of The Solar Scouts, an electrical contracting firm specializing in installing photovoltaic solar arrays serving the North Texas, Dallas and Fort Worth communities.
TXSES: Hi Nicholas! Welcome to the TXSES family. Thanks for becoming a TXSES Platinum Business Member. Tell us a little bit about The Solar Scouts.
The Solar Scouts Manto family
Nicholas: The story of The Solar Scouts traces back to my days in scouting. I’m an Eagle Scout, and while attaining my degrees from Rawl’s College of Business at Texas Tech University, I was Vice President of The Goin’ Band and Trumpet section leader! My experience in the band allowed me to collaborate with students in every college, learning beyond my studies, especially about architecture and engineering. Drawing from my scouting experience, we would leave our campsite better than we arrived. We would pick up trash at the end of our excursion to make sure we left no trace, and most of the time we were picking up from previous campers. The idea of my “campsite” is expanded to the entire planet, and I believe we must leave the planet better than we inherited it. Driven by a desire to contribute positively to the well-being of our planet, I founded the company in North Texas. The Solar Scouts operates as a boutique firm with a team that works collaboratively, fostering teamwork, marketing, business development, sales, installation, support, and operations, while developing relationships with our distribution and manufacturing partners.
TXSES: What’s your approach to projects?
Nicholas: The primary goal when approaching projects, especially in the residential sector, extends beyond a reduction in energy bills. We focus on understanding the consumers’ end goals and emphasizing the broader impact on their economic benefit. Each residential project is tailored not only for economic efficiency but also for ecological sustainability. We aim to forge connections within the solar community, emphasizing solar education, exposing fraudulent practices, aligning financial goals with strategic planning and ensuring optimal utilization of solar panels each year. Education remains a core element for us, with a commitment to enlighten the public about the solar industry’s potential. We have several educational videos to help consumers with information before they make the decision to go solar.
TXSES: What would you describe as your biggest challenges in this work?
Nicholas: Our biggest challenge is overcoming misconceptions about solar, and general skepticism in the market. The attribution we see is less than qualified people in the industry doing business poorly and negative word of mouth influencing others. In addition to that, lead generation is difficult and expensive. If homeowners or business owners were seeking solar as a necessity and approaching our business, we could greatly reduce the price of these systems with less marketing and sales dollars required, then that would compound into even cheaper projects as volume increases.
TXSES: There are also issues with ERCOT, the PUCT and decision-makers who advance anti-solar policies while promoting oil and gas. This is an ongoing story. What would you say has surprised you the most with this work?
Nicholas: As a business owner who started on the sales end of the business and bridged that into the operations and installation side, I’m surprised by how collaborative our community is. Most business owners in the industry share an abundance mentality and are open to learning, sharing, and helping each other grow. We know there’s a huge impact to make on our local communities and the State of Texas while leaving the planet a better place than we inherited it!
TXSES: We couldn’t agree more! Thanks for making time to visit with us about The Solar Scouts work, Nicholas. How can people find out more about you?
Nicholas: Click https://thesolarscouts.com or call 972.433.5979. Thanks for the opportunity to talk about our work.
