Texas produces more crude oil and natural gas than any other state in the country,⁴ with Houston earning the nickname of “The Energy Capital of the World.”⁵ Still, Winter Storm Uri brought historic cold weather to the Lone Star State and revealed how fragile its power grid is. 11 million Texans were left in the dark due to this frigid phenomenon alone.⁶ 

Snowstorm Uri’s deep freeze disaster also caused electricity prices to spike more than 10,000%.⁷ That’s why now, more than ever, we need to work together to build a more resilient energy system that runs on clean, affordable, and renewable electricity made in Texas.

How to Take Advantage of Solar Power in Texas

The Lone Star State basks in an average of 235 sunny days per year.⁸ What’s more, the costs of rooftop solar panels and home batteries have plummeted,^3,9 so it would be incredibly cost-effective if you decide to team up with a Texas solar installer like Sunrun today.

As the #1 home solar and battery company in America,¹⁰ we’ll help you understand how solar energy can power your home during outages, how installing solar panels can reduce your impact on the environment, and even what the panels would look like on your roof. 

Find out in minutes which Sunrun solar plan is the best fit for your budget and unique energy needs. Plus, there are several solar incentives in Texas that could help you leverage solar energy for less.

SOURCES:

1. Eaton Blackout Tracker Annual Report

2. Texas electricity costs

3. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) — Texas solar state rank and solar price drop

4. NBC — U.S. oil and gas production could face weeks of delays due to cold

5. Texas Monthly — The Evolution of the Energy Capital of the World

6. The Washington Post — Texas, the go-it-alone state, is rattled by the failure to keep the lights on

7. A deep freeze sends Texas electricity prices soaring 10,000%

8. Texas annual sunny days

9. U.S. solar battery price drop

10. Sunrun ranked as leading residential solar-plus-storage vendor

11. Weather.com — Millions of Texans left without power due to winter storms

12. Tech Times — Texas Power Outage 2021 Update: Rolling Blackouts Leave Homes at -40°, People Stuck Using Car Heaters

13. The Texas Tribune — Texas was "seconds and minutes" away from catastrophic monthslong blackouts, officials say

14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) generator safety fact sheet

15. CNN — Texas carbon monoxide poisonings spike due to winter storms

16. Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

17. Texas solar property tax exemption

18. Austin Energy Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Rebate Program

19. CPS Energy solar rebate incentive

20. Oncor customers solar incentives

21. AEP Texas

22. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by state

*Consumer’s ability to monetize rebates, incentives, and tax credits depends on several factors, including, without limitation, continued state subsidization of these policies, the applicable Sunrun product type, and whether a consumer purchases or leases a home solar system from Sunrun.

**We recommend contacting a tax professional to accurately determine the impact of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on your federal taxes.

***One Tesla Powerwall stores 13.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of usable electricity, which can be used to back up the home for a day. An LG Chem solar battery holds 9.8 kWh, which can be used to back up essential parts of the home from 8 to 12 hours.