Texas Senate Passes Solar Energy Bill
The Texas Senate passed a bill to create a $100 million-a-year state program to encourage use of solar energy and require home builders in new subdivisions to offer solar energy to home buyers. The measure would also set up a loan program for public schools to install solar systems. The program would be funded by a fee on all energy bills in the state. Homeowners would pay a fee of 20 cents a month, while large businesses would pay $20 a month. “We take pride in the fact that Texas is recognized as the national leader in renewable energy, especially wind generation,” said Sen. Troy Frasier, R-Horseshoe Bay, author of the bill.
Senators voted 26-4 to approve the measure, which now goes to the House. The Public Utility Commission will decide how to distribute the incentive money, which will be used to pay for up to one-third the cost of installation of solar panels and related technologies. In addition to requiring home buyers in new subdivisions be offered the option of solar energy, the bill also would prohibit homeowners associations from having policies that ban the installation of solar panels on residences. The bill also would provide rebates for solar products manufactured in Texas and establish net metering policies that require customers to receive real-time market price for energy that is exported from them by a retail electric provider.
