TXSES on Turning 50: Recent Wins & Moving Forward
By Patrice “Pete” Parsons, TXSES Executive Director I hope you all have had a great summer. Although this summer has not been quite as hot as the last few, it’s still plenty darn hot and we have still been seeing a sharp pull on the Texas grid because of it. Despite the power drain caused […]
Solar Legislation Passed in Texas’s 89th Legislative Session
Three major solar-related laws that TXSES worked on getting passed in the last Texas legislative session went into effect on September 1, 2025. One was on streamlining solar permitting (SB 1202) and two were on consumer protection (SB 1697 & SB 1036). Details for each are laid out below. Permitting – SB 1202 Streamlines permitting […]
The ‘big, beautiful bill’ undercut rural energy projects. Texas must step up. (Op-Ed)
Rural communities didn’t get into renewables for politics. They did it because it worked. They need stability, not sudden rollbacks. By Raina Tillman Hornaday, TXSES Board MemberAustin American-Statesman Guest ColumnistAug 8, 2025Read it in the Austin American-Statesman. The recently passed “big, beautiful bill” was marketed as a cost-cutting win. While that may be true for some […]
Sine Die Approaches: A Mixed Bag for Solar
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 predicted peak power demand of nearly 218 gigawatts by […]
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 from a variety of opponents due to the widespread negative consequences it would have for the […]
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 significant milestones for solar energy in Texas, with record-setting […]