By Pete Parsons, TXSES Executive Director. Sine die is fast approaching, marking the close of the 89th Texas Legislative Session on June 2nd, and as far as I am concerned, it can’t come soon enough. I recently heard a statistic that I found gob smacking: Texas’s...
SB 819: A Threat to Renewables and Texans
By Elle Nicholson. A multitude of energy-related bills have been filed in the 89th Texas Legislative Session, but one particular bill has gained notoriety rarely seen amongst energy bills. Senator Lois Kolkhorst’s Senate Bill 819 has triggered significant backlash...
Harvesting the Sun Twice: Agrivoltaics in Texas
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...
Industry Spotlight: Big Sun Solar
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...
Renewables in the 89th Texas Legislative Session – Presentation
TXSES intern Elle Nicholson gave a virtual presentation to TXSES local chapter North Texas Renewable Energy Group (NTREG) about "Renewables in the 89th Texas Legislative Session," during their April 2025 monthly meeting. Her overview of legislation currently...
Solar Industry Unites to Boost Consumer Protection in Texas
By Patrice “Pete” Parsons, TXSES Executive Director We have had articles on this topic in the past, but with all the recent press, I feel compelled to address the issue of consumer protection again. Solar in Texas has seen explosive growth in the last few years, and...
Small But Mighty: Small-Scale Battery Storage Saves the Day
By Elle Nicholson Battery energy storage systems, commonly referred to as BESS, have quickly become an invaluable tool in the energy industry, for both utilities and small-scale applications alike. The systems work by drawing energy from the grid (or a localized power...
Industry Spotlight: Inclusive Prosperity Capital
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 Inclusive Prosperity Capital (IPC) Smart-E Loan...
2025: What Can We Expect in the 89th Texas Legislature? (Updated)
By Patrice “Pete” Parsons, TXSES Executive Director We are saying goodbye to a very busy, yet successful 2024, and are just as energized by the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in 2025. There is plenty to tackle. Although in many ways, last year marked some...
On the Horizon: Streamlined Regulation for Small-Scale Solar
by Elle Nicholson TXSES is working on a new regulatory development that should improve the solar installation process for homeowners and smaller companies in Texas, if implemented. As distributed energy has increased in popularity throughout the state, the Public...
Industry Spotlight: Solar CenTex
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...
TXSES 2024 End-of-Year Recap
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....
IESNA Texas 2024 Recap (Press Release)
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...
Solar: Keeping the Power On. What’s Next?
By Patrice “Pete” Parsons, TXSES Executive Director As we near the end of the hottest October in Texas’s recorded history (since the 1890s), with new daily highs set across the state, and at least for us in Austin, the latest calendar date to ever hit 100 degrees—44...
The Explosive Energy Demand from AI, Data Centers & Crypto on Texas’ Grid
By Elle Nicholson Data centers are on the rise in Texas due to a variety of technologies. The foundations of the internet run on data centers, as do artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency mines, all of which are booming. Since data centers require copious...
Smart Inverters: Strengthening Grids Against Hurricanes and Power Outages
By Mohammad Alkhatib On July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl swept through Texas, leaving approximately 2.2 million Houston-area customers without power. Although CenterPoint Energy was able to restore power to 1 million customers within 48 hours, the process was not...
Industry Spotlight: Longhorn Solar
We regularly highlight one of our esteemed Platinum Business Members with an exclusive interview in the TXSES newsletter. This month, TXSES Communications Director Tamara Kowalski reached out to Longhorn Solar CEO Louis Petrik, who is also on the TXSES Board of...
Solar in the Aftermath of Hurricane Beryl
by Patrice "Pete" Parsons, TXSES Executive Director The devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl this summer left millions of Texans reeling, including nearly 3 million in the Houston area who were without power in 100+ degree temperatures, with many still out weeks...
TXSES Study Finds Solar Owners Shortchanged by 78% of their Worth
by Ethan Miller According to a new study commissioned by the Texas Solar Energy Society and produced by Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors, the value of solar (VOS) is experiencing externalities. Externalities, according to the International Monetary Fund, are a...
TXSES Report: “Texas Grid Reliability: 2022 Interruption Cost Analysis”
TXSES's new report analyzes the economic impact of grid service interruptions caused by extreme weather events in Texas. Executive Summary The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) is dedicated to enhancing Texas's energy infrastructure. This report presents an...