Although this summer’s heat is behind us, the fragility of the Texas grid is right where we left it: front and center in our lives and livelihoods.
Summer 2023: the bad, the ugly and the spectacularly good
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Transmission, Not Renewables, to Blame for Texas’ Summer Energy Woes
By Ethan Miller and Pete Parsons Being blamed for problems you didn’t cause is frustrating and can even be grounds for defamation. For the Texas renewables industry, it’s just another day. On September 6, the Electric Reliability Grid of Texas (ERCOT) issued an Energy...
TXSES Announces Addition of Steven Ùgalde as Membership and Marketing Outreach Coordinator
With a wealth of experience in customer success relationships, data analysis, case/project management and social media, TXSES welcomes Steven Ùgalde who will be instrumental in helping grow TXSES’ base, acting as the main liaison between TXSES and its members while...
Business Member Highlight: Freddy Gonzalez – CEO and Founder of Lonestar Solar Services
By Steven ÙgaldeMembership and Marketing Coordinator Our different levels of business memberships are an integral part of TXSES’ overall mission. They share their expertise in educating Texans about the benefits of solar energy, separating fact from fiction. They...
All about ERCOT: a conversation with Beth Garza
By Jane Pulaski, TXSES Director of Communications Before Winter Storm Uri, few people knew about or had heard of ERCOT. But since then, and especially this summer, hardly a day goes by without press in state, national and international media reporting about how...
The enormity of its impact: happy 1st birthday, IRA!
By Patrice 'Pete' ParsonsTXSES Executive Director Another day, another dozen or more articles about the relentless positive impact of the Investment Recovery Act (IRA) on all of us. Admittedly, it’s hard keeping up with the daily eye-popping stats: tens of thousands...
Meet Laura Doll, Secretary of TXSES Board of Directors
In each issue of The TXSES Report, we’ll feature a member of our esteemed TXSES Board of Directors. The TXSES board of directors plays a critical role in our success, including setting our strategic direction, ensuring that we have the necessary resources to achieve...
SolarAPP+: Advancing Efficiency in Solar Permitting in the City of Houston
SolarAPP+, the Solar Automated Permit Processing, is an innovative online web portal designed to revolutionize the plan review and permitting process for code-compliant residential photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Meet Dr. Ariane Beck, Chair, TXSES Board of Directors
In each issue of The TXSES Report, we’ll feature a member of our esteemed TXSES Board of Directors. In the August 6, 2023 issue, we introduce you to Dr. Ariane Beck, Chair of the TXSES Board.
Energy efficiency: doing more with less and reaping the benefits
I don’t know about you, but I grew up with parents who were relentless with sanctions if we didn’t turn lights off when we left a room.
The affordable future of grid resilience in Texas
Another week, another round of local, state and national news articles about how the Texas grid is trying to handle the relentless heat and keep up with increasing electricity demand.
Texas Solar Car Challenge revs up July 16!
For 30 years, under the skilled leadership of Dr. Lehman Marks, the Solar Car Challenge has motivated students in science, engineering and alternative energy awareness. The Challenge teaches high school students around the world how to build and race roadworthy solar...
Know what to do in a power outage!
Weather disasters keep coming, with bigger storms that last longer. Know what information you need and where to get it. Make an outage prep plan that works for you and your household so you can get ready and stay ready before a power outage ever happens. Check out...
2023 Solar Car Challege Revs Up!
DYK the Solar Car Challenge, THE annual high school solar car race, is less than 3 weeks away! This year's event, the 30th, is hosted by Oncor and Lockheed Martin. Starting on July 16 in Fort Worth, the nearly 1,400-mile race ends on July 23 in Palmdale, California....
Solar APP+ software: just the thing to reduce solar installation costs
Texas’ solar industry is in overdrive, and it’s not just because of the extreme weather.
National Interconnection Report: how did Texas score?
The latest state results from Freeing the Grid, the highly-regarded report from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is in. Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, Texas scores a 'D' for its interconnection policies and processes On the brighter side, this...
SEIA’s New Consumer Education Resources Ready for Incoming Solar Customers
SEIA Press ReleaseJune 1, 2023 WASHINGTON D.C. — Today the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is releasing a suite of new and updated resources for consumers to meet the increase in demand for solar power created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). With the...
The 88th legislature: it’s a wrap!
By Ethan MillerTXSES Intern With the gaveling of Sine Die on May 29 for the 88th Texas Legislative Session, Texas successfully avoided the passage of catastrophic anti-renewable bills like SB 7 and SB 624. However, several bills, including those that would further...
Texas renewables live to fight another day
We breathe a sigh of relief that the 88th regular legislative session is over. By all accounts, this session featured a legislature run amok in obstinate animosity to adapt and evolve.
Legislation Update
We’ve been following three solar-related bills this session. For the most current information about any legislation, visit LegiScan. HB 3010 by Rep. Zwiener (D-45) requiring municipal/county governments to use SolarApp+ (or another online program with similar...