2025: What Can We Expect in the 89th Texas Legislature?
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…
Solar United Neighbors: Policy & Advocacy Campaigner, West Region
Candidates can be located remotely from anywhere in the US, but preference given to those within West regions. – See Job Description & Apply…
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…
EarthShare Texas: Executive Director
Location: Texas (Hybrid – Headquarters in Austin, with periodic travel across Texas) -See Job Description & Apply- About EarthShare Texas EarthShare Texas unites the voices…
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…
TXSES 2024 End-of-Year Recap
Reflecting back on 2024, it has been a busy year full of change, promise and fun at TXSES. Our fearless leader, Patrice “Pete” Parsons, has…
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…
Solar Car Challenge
July 20–23, 2025 • Texas Motor Speedway, Ft. Worth, TX • The 2025 Solar Car Challenge is a closed-track event at the world-famous Texas Motor…
Solar Energy Industries Association Careers
Washington, DC | Full-Time | Various Positions | The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Solar financial incentives for property owners (2024-2032)
This is a summary of publicly available resources as compiled by Solvari Solar. Property owners should refer to the resources linked in this document for…
Heat Pumps Vs Solar Hot Water Systems
Should you install a solar hot water or heat pump hot water system for your home? This article from Energy Matters Australia takes a look…
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…
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…
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…
Solar + Storage vs. Generators in the United States
By Mohammad Alkhatib In the United States, the need for reliable backup power solutions is increasing due to frequent power outages and natural disasters. Solar…
Report Commissioned by TXSES on the Value of Solar in Texas Released
By Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons, TXSES Executive Director Until Hurricane Beryl, the biggest news in Texas energy this summer had stemmed from ERCOT Chief Executive Officer…
U.S Solar Market Growth Predictions for 2025
By Mohammad Alkhatib Solar Energy: A Bright Future Ahead You’re probably aware that renewable energy is the future, but did you know that solar energy…
Solar Car Challenge 2024 & “TXSES Day at the Race” in Ft. Worth
The 28th Annual Solar Car Challenge was held July 14–17, 2024, at the Texas Motor Speedway, in Ft. Worth, TX. TXSES was excited to participate…
SMA Installer Training with Krannich Central
Wednesday, July 24 · 10am – 2pm CDT – Location: 16753 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd building 2 suite 270, Buda, TX 78610 Get ready…
New Value of Solar Study: Rooftop Solar Cuts Costs for the Texas Grid
TXSES commissioned a new study quantifying grid-stabilizing value and cost savings of rooftop solar For Immediate Release: July 16, 2024Contact: José Medina, jmedina@citizen.org AUSTIN, Texas—Energy…
New Pathways for Equitable Solar Adoption in Texas – TXSES Pilot Project (NREL White Paper Released)
TXSES is proud to be one of eight teams that was chosen nationwide for the Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN) pilot project, Equitable Solar in…
Op-Ed: “More Rooftop Solar, Less Red Tape”
Photo by NewSaetiew / Getty Images Dallas Should Adopt Department of Energy App to Speed Solar Permitting. TXSES Executive Director Patrice “Pete” Parsons co-wrote this…
ASES National Solar Tour
October 4–6, 2024 & Virtually Throughout the Year Largest Grassroots Solar and Sustainable Living Event in the Nation Hosted by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) for…
Misinformation & Disinformation in Solar
by Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons, TXSES Executive Director Misinformation and disinformation are at all-time highs in recent years, not only in politics, but also when it…
Texas’ Transmission Troubles and CREZ II
Transmission towers and lines at sunset in East Texas (Credit: Matthew T Rader, MatthewTRader.com, License CC-BY-SA) By Ethan Miller Back in October, I wrote an…
Industry Spotlight: Krannich Solar
Each month, we highlight one of our esteemed Business Members with an exclusive interview in the TXSES newsletter. This month, TXSES Marketing Outreach Coordinator Steven…
Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) Regional Event – Austin
November 19–20, 2024 • Austin Marriott Downtown — TXSES is proud to be a Texas event partner for the inaugural Intersolar & Energy Storage North…
New Pathways for Equitable Solar Adoption in Texas
As part of the Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN) Round 3 program, a diverse group of energy stakeholders in Texas set out to develop and…
TXSES at RE+ Texas Conference
May 14-15, 2024 • George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX • TXSES Panel on SolarAPP+ | Tuesday, May 14, 2024; 11:30 AM• Expo Hall…
Solar for All Coalition Awarded $250 Million EPA Funding for Solar Across Texas
TXSES is pleased to announce that the Texas Solar for All Coalition, of which TXSES is a participant, was awarded nearly $250 million in grant…
Solar Panel Installer Hiring Events
Check with Green Careers Texas for upcoming solar training and hiring events • Houston Location: HBI Houston Build Strong, 10631 Harwin, Suite 606, Houston, 77057…
A Matter of Supply vs. Demand
by Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons, TXSES Executive Director You’ve probably seen the headlines this past week from ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas), including: “ERCOT warns…
Empowering the Future: Voices from a Solar Installation Training Program
by Steven Ùgalde, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator Recently, I had the privilege of attending a solar installation training program, where prospective students gathered to learn…
Understanding the Cost of Grid Interruptions in Texas
By Ethan Miller and Mohammed Alkhabtib In our ongoing commitment to strengthen Texas’s energy infrastructure, the Texas Solar Energy Society is proud to update our…
Industry Spotlight: Axis Solar
Each month we highlight one of our esteemed Business Members with an interview in our newsletter. This month, we feature Platinum Business Member, Axis Solar…
Protecting Yourself from the ‘Other Guys’ – Article by Pete Parsons
Photo Credit: Laksh Muchhal, U.S. Department of Energy, Flickr “There are a lot of great solar installers in the industry who provide reliable products to…
Patrice “Pete” Parsons Talks about TXSES’s Initiatives on Austin’s KOOP Radio Podcast
TXSES Executive Director Patrice “Pete” Parsons was interviewed on Austin’s KOOP radio (91.7 FM) podcast, The Austin KOOPerative Hour, in March, with hosts John Hoffner…
Tamara Kowalski Joins TXSES as Communications Director
PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release CONTACT INFORMATIONTexas Solar Energy Society (TXSES)Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons210.722.7270 The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) is pleased to announce…
Going Solar in 2024. Who Do You Trust?
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…
Holt Renewables: Industry Highlight
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…
Project Manager/Customer Service
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…
Sharing the solar love
By Patrice ‘Pete’ ParsonsExecutive Director, TXSES Last weekend, I had the privilege of sharing our work at the annual/monthly meeting of the North Texas Renewable…
Industry Spotlight: The Solar Scouts
We talk with Nicholas Manto of The Solar Scouts, a TXSES Platinum Business member…
A New Year of Continued Partnerships
As energy demand continues to grow, so does the potential for greater energy risk. Despite statewide political efforts to subvert renewables, their growing numbers are…
How Much Does Texas’ Unstable Grid Cost Texans? We’re Finding Out.
Texas Solar Energy Society is proud to announce that it has begun the daunting task of estimating the cost of grid service interruptions to the…
TXSES Internship: CRM and Research Assistant
TXSES is seeking a highly-organized and responsible CRM and Research Assistant intern to support our grant writing team, perform clerical and website tasks and assist…
Texas pays Bitcoin miners to save energy. Why not homeowners to produce it?
Patrice ‘Pete’ ParsonsTXSES Executive Director Houston Chronicle (Opinion), December 2, 2023 Texans know nothing comes free, and certainly not energy. So when homeowners are sending…
Infinite Power: Take Your Share of the Texas Sun!
By Pete Parsons, TXSES Executive Director This much-deserved fall-like weather is our reward for those brutal triple-digit months. Finally. And while we’re reveling in the…
Houston’s Journey with SolarAPP+ and the Future of Solar Permitting
By Steven Ùgalde, TXSES Marketing & Outreach Coordinator The City of Houston and the Houston Permitting Center (HPC) have achieved remarkable success in the solar…
Sunnova – Regional Energy Advisor
Sunnova’s goal is to be the source of clean, affordable, and reliable energy with a simple mission:To power energy independence so that homeowners and businesses…
Solar Maintenance: Roof Repairs
While some distributed solar systems can be ground-mounted or placed atop car ports, the vast majority of residential systems are placed atop a homeowner’s roof…
Counting Texas’ solar rooftops. The numbers may surprise you.
Ethan Miller, TXSES Intern, and Larry Howe, Solar and Climate Solutions Advocate It’s not hard to find estimates for utility-scale solar capacity in Texas; ERCOT…
TXSES Launches Infinite Power: Take Your Share of the Texas Sun!
Statewide educational campaign aims to double the amount of distributed solar by 2030 November 2, 2023 Austin, TX – As the Texas distributed solar industry matures…
Choosing an Installer: 10 Things to Know
If you’re looking to install solar onto your home or business but feel
overwhelmed at the number of installer options available to you, TXSES is here
to…
TXSES Talks Distributed Solar Energy at Bluebonnet Energy Fair
By Steven ÙgaldeMembership and Marketing Outreach Coordinator As the Texas distributed solar industry continues to expand, TXSES is thrilled to witness proactive initiatives by providers…
Summer 2023: the bad, the ugly and the spectacularly good
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
AISD campuses to get solar panels
Source: Austin American-Statesman Thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Renew America’s Schools grant program, the Austin Independent School District (AISD) will install solar panels…
Renewable energy sets new record for electricity production in Texas
On June 25, solar power generation hit more than 1,300 megawatts setting a new all-time record. ERCOT reports show an all-time record for renewable energy…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
How solar energy is helping San Antonio businesses meet ESG goals
TXSES Platinum Business Member Big Sun Solar is helping businesses with their sustainability reporting to help illustrate their commitment to addressing ESG issues and creating…
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…
Houses of worship go solar
TXSES and Environment America hosted a panel discussion about houses of worship going solar…
Wind and solar energy saved Texans $11 billion in 2022
A detailed examination of the Texas wholesale electricity market showed wind and solar power generation saved the state approximately $11 billion in 2022. The report…
Connecting to the Texas grid
By Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons, TXSES Executive Director On May 4, 2023, I attended the Public Utility Commission’s (PUCT) distributed energy resources (DER) workshop Docket 54233…
How is distributed solar permitting doing in Texas?
Platinum Business Member Ohm Analytics recently shared select data for Texas permits issued for distributed solar installations for 2022-Q1 2023. Tracking market volume, growth, pricing…
Clean Energy Legislation Update
HB 3010. Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-45). HB 3010, requiring municipal/county governments to use SolarApp+ (or another online program with similar capabilities) to streamline the solar…
Automated Permitting Speeds U.S. Solar Adoption
NREL 5/3/23 Most rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems are required to go through a permitting process implemented by local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), such as community…
Educating and Training the Texas Solar Workforce
Since 2016, the not-for-profit Green Careers Dallas (GCD) has been helping those in greatest need of access become part of Texas’ rapidly growing solar workforce…
Clean Energy Legislation Making Its Way Through the 88th Texas Legislature
There are a number of clean energy bills making their way through the current Texas legislative session. Here are three that TXSES is keeping an…
Cheaper power, more resilient grid, climate change panacea: Texas reality or fantasy?
By Patrice ‘Pete’ ParsonsExecutive Director Following the nearly complete failure of the ERCOT energy grid during Winter Storm Uri, Texans have been awaiting legislation to…
TXSES Partnering to Build the Pipeline for Texas’ Clean Energy Workforce
Austin, TX – The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) today announced it is part of a team that has received a contract from the Texas Comptroller’s…
Texas SB 857, Performance Credit Mechanism: who benefits?
One of the more talked about energy bills filed in the current 88th legislative session, SB 857 and companion SJR 45 is raising lots of…
Net Metering in Texas: What Are Your Options?
If you’re considering going solar, you might be wondering if your utility will compensate you for pushing electricity you’re not using back onto the grid…
Solar Panel Consumer Information from TDLR
A company can sell a solar panel system without holding an electrical license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), but the homeowner…
Solar Solutions for Texas Electric Cooperatives
Virtual WorkshopWednesday, February 15, 2023 Designed for local Texas rural electric cooperatives, TXSES coordinated this workshop featuring national, regional and local experts who addressed questions…
2023 TXSES Annual Meeting Recording and Presentations
Missed our Annual Meeting? No problem. Here’s the recorded version!…
Understanding the Solar Tax Credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Heard a lot about solar tax credits for homeowners in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)? Have a lot of questions about IRA but don’t know…
TXSES 2023 Virtual Annual Meeting
Join TXSES and its five regional chapters for the virtual Annual Meeting on Saturday January 28, 10a-Noon…
TXSES Announces New Board Members and Officers
The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) announced the election of three new members to its board of directors, as well as the full slate of…
Texas Solar Cowboys: Platinum Business Member Profile
This month’s Platinum Business Member profile is Nicholas Sprunck, owner/CEO of Texas Solar Cowboys, solar installer in the DFW Metroplex…
Two Texas Towns Selected by the Department of Energy for $15K Solar Adoption Program
Austin, TX – Tool, Texas and Waco, Texas have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory as one of 12…
‘Tis the season for gratitude
As we approach year’s end, I’m thinking about gratitude, more than ever, both personally and professionally. Beloved family and cherished friends notwithstanding, I have profound…
What a change!
By Howard ‘Scot’ Arey TXSES Board Chair When I first became involved with TXSES nearly a decade ago, the biggest challenge was solar adoption by…
Climate Resilience Demands Urgent, Bold Policies!
Today, when we realistically evaluate the situation concerning water, disastrous extreme weather events, melting glaciers, etc., we admit that we have some serious problems to…
Texas Power Podcast talks with TXSES board member Amy Heart
TXSES board member Amy Heart, who leads public policy at Sunrun, helped craft the pilot as a member of the ADER task force. She joins…
Rooftop solar: what you need to know when you buy or sell a solar home
Homeowners are keen on having solar on their roofs and taking advantage of the value that the system adds to their home while they live…
Whisper Valley: Prize-Winning Sustainable Community in Austin
On a recent Saturday afternoon, I took a drive to Whispering Valley to see for myself what a 2,000-acre planned community of sustainable design and…
Mission Solar Energy celebrates its tenth anniversary with 1GW expansion announcement!
TXSES wishes Platinum Business Member Mission Solar a very happy 10th anniversary!…
Solar and wind energy saved Texas customers more than $7 billion in 2022… so far
Renewables are on track to save Texans $11 billion total this year, reports University of Texas Austin research scientist, IdeaSmiths executive and former TXSES board…
DFW Solar Tour 2022 featured home that didn’t lose power during Winter Storm Uri!
By Robert Lagerblad NTREG event coordinator for the DFW Solar Tour 2022 Saturday, October 1st was a lovely day for the 2022 solar tour in…
TXSES Today: A conversation with Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons
For the past three years, Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons has been at the helm of TXSES, carrying out the organization’s mission to educate and inspire every…
TXSS Newsmaker Interview: William (Dub) Taylor
In his nearly three decades of public service work, Dub has been a tireless advocate for energy efficiency, clean energy and performance contracting in the…
Texas has many natural fuel resources – let’s use them all in ERCOT!
TXSES Board Chair Scot Arey suggests Texans win when all energy sources are available…
TXSES Board Member Karl Rábago Talks Solar on KRLD
TXSES oard member, renewable energy expert and all-around marvelous human, Karl Rabago, talks with KRLD AM’s Mitch Carr about the rise of and massive potential…
How to Avoid Solar Scams!
Our friends at Austin Energy have details on their website to avoid being scammed…
Industry Interview: Raina Hornaday, Caprock Renewables
Born into a farming/ranching family in eastern New Mexico, Raina Tillman Hornaday has been a key player in Texas renewables…
Texas PUCT Project No . 53911 | Aggregated Distributed Energy Resources (ADER) ERCOT Pilot
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) is developing a pilot project to investigate how distributed energy resources can boost electric reliability…
State Energy Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Puts Renewables on the Chopping Block
Neither the solar nor wind industries are represented on the 12-member appointed committee…
Passed, signed and delivered: the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 becomes reality!
President Biden signed the historic $739 billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on August 16…
New Braunfels Utility: Distributed Energy Pathfinder
Nestled between Austin and San Antonio, the City of New Braunfels is home to some well-loved landmarks: Schlitterbahn Water Park, Natural Bridge Caverns and Gruene…
Industry interview | Stan Pipkin, Lighthouse Solar
Starting with two employees in 2007, Lighthouse Solar, TXSES Platinum business member, now has 40 employees. Stan has been a key player in shaping local…
Natural gas or solar? Your call.
By Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons Executive Director TXSES Since February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Texas has been exporting more natural gas to Europemore than ever before…
Solar energy is working, but red tape across Texas cities remain
In the middle of a heat wave, this renewable source is helping to offset the increased need for energy with help from the sun…
Op-Ed: Solar Power Shining Through the Texas Heat, No Thanks to Texas Cities
As Texans hunkered down again from a “reserve capacity energy shortage” this week, one thing was clear: Texans who invested in solar helped the electric…
Looking to fund your clean energy project?
Been thinking about going solar? With solar panels at attractive prices, the time to invest in clean energy solutions has never been better!…
Meet the TXSES Interns!
Here at TXSES, we’re fortunate to have interns who are learning the non-profit and solar industry worlds at the same time…
TXSES Submits Comments to PUCT on Distributed Energy Resources
In response to the Texas Public Utility Commission’s project 51603, Review of Distributed Energy Resources, TXSES prepared and submitted comments…
Weigh in by June 15th for fair rules for solar!
These continue to be interesting times for Texas utilities. With record triple-digit temperatures already blanketing the state, concerns that the grid can keep up with…
Solar Doing Its Job Despite Shakiness With Six Electric Generation Plants Going Offline
Did you know that Texas produces more power than any other state?…
Exercise Your Right to Vote!
As a cooperative, the Pedernales Electric Coop is owned and governed by its members. PEC’s service territory serves close to 375,000 customers, (more meters than…
Texas Grid Shouldn’t Be Stressed in May!
This weekend, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) electrical grid will be stressed…
Announcing the New TXSES Website!
At long last!! After a few months of focused work and countless tweaks, we’re delighted to officially announce our remodeled website at www.txses.org…
All-of-Texas Energy Approach
President Biden announced that the U.S. will cease to import Russian oil. Simultaneously, Ukraine is set to join the European energy system in a further…
Dipping Your Toes Into Storage – Is it Right for You?
Amy Heart Vice President Policy, Sunrun Texans experienced first-hand the devastating impacts from unreliable power and poor energy security from the recent spate of winter…
Industry Conversation: Bret Biggart, CEO Freedom Solar
For the past 10 years, Biggart has built Texas-based Freedom Solar from two to more than 500 employees in five states. We had the chance…
Director of Development
Schedule: Part-time Salary range: Commensurate with experience Position: reports to Executive Director and Board Chair Location: Flexible; Texas-based preferred For more than four decades, TXSES…
2022 on the Horizon: Creative Cooperation, Lasting Solutions
Another year draws to a close, and even in these trying times of inflation and supply chain concerns, we have much to be thankful for…
Austin’s Children’s Haven Association Goes Solar!
A bedrock in the Austin community for more than seven decades, The Children’s Haven Association (TCHA) has helped disadvantaged individuals and families in marginalized communities…
The Brothers Hoffman: Solarizing the Texas Hill Country One County at a Time
Since they were teenagers, Derrick and Eric Hoffman have been in the electrical services business, learning the basics from their father, Tom. As their apprenticeships…
Texas Scores Big with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Source: Environment Texas November 6, 2021 The U.S. House of Representatives voted 228-206 last night to build a bridge to a brighter future by passing…
Winter Storm Uri: Impacts on Low-Income Texans
Almost every Texan remembers Winter Storm Uri, which in 2021 highlighted the inadequacies of the ERCOT power grid as it faced total failure. However, the…
Call for Candidates for the TXSES Board of Directors
The affairs of TXSES are governed by a Board of Directors chosen from its membership. If you are a current member of TXSES or become a member prior to…
Modern Modeling Provides Better Insights into Solar, Storage and the Role of Distributed Energy Resources
Karl RábagoRábago Energy LLC For nearly two years now, a coalition of clean energy developers, advocates, and experts from across the U.S. has been working…
Chair’s Corner: Forging Smart Distributed Solar Policies in Texas: Our Work Continues
Howard ‘Scot’ AreyTXSES Board Chair There is a train wreck coming for behind-the-meter distributed solar and it’s our responsibility to fix it. Even after the…
Addressing Energy Poverty with Solar Energy
By Jack Maedgen, Former TXSES intern Access to clean and affordable energy is an essential part of modern life. Cooking, cleaning, doing homework at night…
Platinum Business Member Conversation: Jim White, CEO The PowerStore
Since 2010, The PowerStore in Alvarado, Texas and recently in Mooresville, North Carolina, has supplied solar power and storage solutions to customers in the U.S…
Solar United Neighbors’ Big Vision for Texas
By Dori Wolfe, Houston Area SUN Co-op Coordinator There’s never been a better time for solar in Texas. I’m proud to be part of an…
TXSES Leads the Way to Keep PEC the Best Place to be a Solar Homeowner
Back in April, I shared with you what was happening at the Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Its anti-solar policies, approved in December 2020, level a direct…
The PACE of Texas Solar
By Dub Taylor, Chief Operating Officer Texas PACE Authority The demand for solar in Texas is exploding as costs continue to decline and property owners…
Advanced Energy Perspectives: A Stormy Post-Crisis Legislative Session Yields Wins for Advanced Energy in Texas
With permission, by Suzanne Bertin and Erica Glenn for Advanced Energy Economy, June 3, 2021 It was a dark and stormy session for the Texas legislature…
Become Part of our TXSES Regional Chapter Family!
As the Texas chapter of the American Solar Energy Society, TXSES has spent the last four decades working to educate and inspire every Texan to…
Solar and the 87th Texas Legislature: how’d we do?
by Luke Metzger More Texans are going solar every day. Texas currently has enough solar energy capacity installed to power the equivalent of more than…
Industry interview: Carl Ramsbey, CAM Solar
San Antonio-based CAM Solar is a solar sales and installation company serving customers in San Antonio, Austin, the Rio Grande Valley and parts of Colorado…
Penalizing Solar Homeowners Is Not Good Public Policy
By Howard ‘Scot’ Arey Potential anti-solar policies at the Pedernales Electric Coop (PEC) threaten to derail future distributed solar in PEC’s service territory, the rural…
Build San Antonio Green
BREAKING: Build San Antonio Green, our San Antonio TXSES chapter, receives the 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection…
Solar Policy Update 87(R) Legislative Session
If it’s an odd-numbered year, the Texas legislature is in session. A confluence of clamor and mayhem with thousands of bills filed (more than 7,000…
A Texas-size Freeze on Texas Solar
By Joshua Rhodes, Ph.D With sunny days and afternoon temperatures pushing into the 80s, it is hard to believe that just over a…
Moving forward; not looking backward
I thought my first Solar Reflector article would focus on why I returned to TXSES. I felt an urgency to speak out against under-the-radar attacks…
Community Solar: a conversation with Jason Pittman, GoSmartSolar
Jason PittmanPresidentGoSmartSolar How often do you wander into your boss’s office to resign and he ends up offering you something you really want to do?…
TXSES Announces Meadows Foundation Grant
The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) today announced it has received a $75,000 grant from the Texas-based Meadows Foundation. These funds will support TXSES’s mission…
The Texas Blackout is a Man-Made Disaster of Epic Proportions
February 22, 2021 Excerpted from pvmagazine By David Brearley, TXSES Board Member As my wife and I melted snow this past week to flush…
“The entire system was overwhelmed,” said TXSES Board Member, Joshua Rhodes
From Aljazeera News to the New York Times to the Christian Science Monitor, Joshua Rhodes, research fellow at the Webber Energy Group at the University…
TXSES Announces New Board Members and Officers
The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) announced the election of six new members to its board of directors, as well as the full slate of…
Gratitude in a Tumultuous Year
Chair’s Corner – December 2020 Katherine Searcy, Chair As we wrap up one of the most tumultuous years that I can recall, I return to…
Solar PV in Dripping Springs: a Homeowner’s Story About Going Big with Solar
When Michael Blank was nine, his dad, an electrical engineer, taught him basic wiring. At 13, Blank was doing more complicated electrical tasks than dad…
Texas Solar Policy in the 87th Texas Regular Legislative Session: Vocal or Muted?
by Jane Pulaski In this nothing-is-normal simmering cauldron we’re currently living in, I am nonetheless thinking about the upcoming Texas legislative session. Perhaps it’s a…
Building Pathways to Clean Energy Careers: Solar Austin Develops Equitable Clean Energy Jobs Internship Program
By David Bearley Solar Austin, Secretary, Board of Directors NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional (#091804-5) Solar Austin has had its one of its most successful and productive…
TXSES Welcomes Its 2021 Interns!
TXSES welcomes three interns for 2021, all of whom are committed to helping TXSES achieve its mission. “We couldn’t be more fortunate and excited to…
The Future of Solar
by Roger Duncan I do not need to spend time to convince readers of this newsletter that solar power is the future of electric generation…
Texas Solar Energy Society Welcomes Eco El Paso as New West Texas Chapter
The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) today announced the addition of Eco El Paso to its family of local chapters across the state. “We are…
The 24th Annual Cool House Tour Goes Virtual!
From humble beginnings to 21st Century, this is the signature event for learning to live comfortably in Central Texas climate For nearly a quarter-century, Austin…
Build Small, Live Large: Building less costs less but doesn’t sacrifice comfort
Guest contributor: Alan Barley AIA Barley Pfeiffer Architecture With more than 30 years’ experience, we at Barley Pfeiffer Architecture have been involved in almost every…
American Solar Energy Society’s 25th National Solar Tour Goes Virtual!
For a quarter-century, the American Solar Energy (ASES) has organized and delivered the National Solar Tour, the largest grassroots solar event in the U.S. This…
The Path to LEED Certification in the Built Environment
Guest editorial by Jonathan Kraatz, Executive Director USGBC/Texas and Robert Pegues, Quality Assurance Manager, Single Family Division, TexEnergy | Us-EcoLogic LEED, Leadership for Energy Efficiency…
Solar Homes Tour in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: October 3
Rosa Orenstein JD This year, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Tour is featuring more than 60 locations nationwide, including homes and businesses…
Green Building & Cool House Tours in Texas: Chair’s Corner – September 2020
By Katherine Searcy, Chair, TXSES Board of Directors The Texas Solar Energy Society’s mission is Equitable Access to Solar Energy for Every Texan. Green building…
From Software to Solar: the need for diversity in the clean energy workforce
Guest blog: Katherine Burk Cheema is a West Texas native and a proud Texas Longhorn Alumna. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with…
TXSES 2020: A New Vision
From the outset, I knew that 2020 would be a year of great change for TXSES…
Introduction to Community Solar: Texas-Sized Potential
By Hanna Mitchell, Program Director for Solar United Neighbors of Texas While demand for solar is growing across Texas – and some Texas cities have…
What Does COVID19 Mean for the Solar Industry and for Texas, too?
By Joshua D. Rhodes, Ph.D. , Research Associate, Webber Energy Group University of Texas/Austin There is not much in this world that has not been…
The Psychology of Solar Module Prices
Making cost predictions over any time frame is a dicey game, but using the past decade as a handy portent ($2 to 18 cents), in…
Our commitment to you: COVID-19 update from TXSES Executive Director
Dear valued TXSES members and sponsors, In these unprecedented times when things are changing around us at incredible speed, we believe kinship is more important…
2020 Annual Meeting Presentations
It was a fantastic meeting at the Georgetown Library at our annual event Charlie Hemmeline with the Texas Solar Power Association gave the following…
San Antonio wins SolSmart award for supportive solar program adoption
The City of San Antonio announced in May that it, and CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipally owned utility, have been selected for national recognition for programs…
U.S. residential solar market down 17 percent year-over-year
In spite of strong Texas growth, GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association report that the residential solar market declined in the first quarter…
Garland municipal utility taps into west Texas solar facility
As the latest development in the boom taking place across Texas, Southern Company announced the commissioning of the 102 MW Lamesa solar plant, according to this…