Most Texans think too much red tape is holding back new solar projects, and want lawmakers out of the way.
Texas is near the top of the solar game — installing more solar than any other state through the first half of 2024. But policies piling up in red tape make that growth more difficult than it should be. Texans strongly believe that their state should make it easier, not harder, to build solar.
According to a new poll conducted by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Global Strategy Group (GSG), and North Star Opinion Research, 89% of Texans – including 83% of Trump voters – think farmers and property owners should have the right to lease. their world of solar projects.
Many Texans are also not fans of adding fees and regulations that make solar more difficult. More than 80% of respondents said they wanted a level playing field for energy, allowing solar to compete with oil and gas. Texas' solar industry is a major part of the state's energy future, bringing $13.4 billion to the economy by 2023 alone. And 76% of Texans agree that solar is good for the economy.
Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA, summed it up: “Texas officials blocking solar development are out of step with what voters want: more solar.”
The poll also highlighted that a majority of Texans see the electric grid as outdated and in need of modernization, with 90% of voters, including 85% of Republican voters, agreeing. With 73% believing that solar and battery storage can make the grid more resilient, it's clear that they see solar as part of the solution.
Texas' success with solar power could be jeopardized by policymakers who insist on favoring fossil fuels. Texans across the political spectrum see the benefits of solar energy, with 73% wanting their electricity generation to generate more electricity with solar energy. That has more support than any other energy source, even natural gas (67%) — and nearly 80% back the Biden administration's clean energy push, which is in line with national trends.
Read the survey and top line analysis by clicking the links.
Read more: Hell froze over in Texas – the state will connect to the US grid for the first time with a grant
FTC: We use auto affiliate links to earn income. More.
