Texas is within the throes of a clear power transition. About one-fourth of our electrical energy comes from renewables, we lead the nation in wind energy manufacturing, and we’ll quickly lead photo voltaic power as properly. Clear power sources have already saved Texas clients greater than $7 billion this yr.
A brand new era of households welcomes power options that sort out local weather change, make communities much less depending on the roller-coaster price of fossil fuels, and supply a secure electrical energy grid that takes benefit of rising clear power assets.
The excellent news is that new help from Congress, by way of current bipartisan infrastructure laws and the Inflation Discount Act, will assist decrease our electrical energy payments and create clear power jobs. The query dealing with Texas leaders — together with on the metropolis and county ranges — is find out how to capitalize on this once-in-a-generation alternative.
The primary job is stabilizing our power provide. Energy outages price the US financial system greater than $70 billion yearly. The brand new federal cash will instantly start work to stabilize an influence grid that was hit arduous throughout final yr’s Winter Storm Uri. The initiatives present Texas with greater than $200 million for weatherization and different methods that assist forestall outages, make the facility grid extra resilient, and help 1000’s of miles of latest transmission strains that delivers clear, reasonably priced electrical energy.
These investments and tax credit will construct on what has develop into the linchpin of the Texas financial system — the clear power sector, which employs almost 240,000 Texas staff in photo voltaic, wind, storage and different jobs. clear power. The tax credit embody bonuses for companies that pay a prevailing wage to match the well-paying clear power jobs created by firms like Tesla, Normal Motors and Ford right here.
For Texas shoppers who’ve seen their electrical payments soar 50 p.c prior to now yr, assist will not come quickly sufficient. Due to the Inflation Discount Act, extra households should buy energy-efficient home equipment, enhance the setting of their houses and save on utility payments. The rebates cowl as much as one hundred pc of the price of putting in environment friendly new home equipment corresponding to warmth pumps, water heaters, garments dryers, stoves and ovens. And the brand new tax credit will cowl almost a 3rd of the prices of putting in photo voltaic power methods, and upgrading heating and cooling gear.
Some tax credit assist pay for group photo voltaic tasks, with extra credit for these in reasonably priced housing properties and in low-income communities. Grants to assist state and native governments undertake the newest constructing power codes can save the common new Texas house owner $162 a yr.
The brand new federal investments will assist advance the quicker improvement of unpolluted power applied sciences, corresponding to giant, trendy batteries that retailer electrical energy generated by photo voltaic and wind installations.
Wind energy, photo voltaic power and the rising clear power financial system are already serving to shoppers and creating jobs in our rural communities, like these in west Texas the place wind energy is booming and the photo voltaic power power.
Due to this federal laws, rural electrical cooperatives serving 2.5 million houses, companies and different clients will probably be eligible for direct help to make vital investments in clear power. This may enhance reliability, reliability and affordability, partially by way of clear power and improved power effectivity..
The Inflation Discount Act additionally helps climate-smart agriculture practices, which is able to assist increase alternatives for almost 250,000 Texas farms to be a part of the local weather resolution and be rewarded for his or her stewardship. Everybody will profit from a stronger meals provide, a stronger rural financial system and fewer air pollution.
These unprecedented investments will enhance the lives of numerous Texans and guarantee our state continues to guide in power properly into the twenty first century. However Texas leaders should acknowledge the chance, seize the chance and seize the chance to strengthen our power independence.
Colin Leyden is the Texas state director for the Environmental Protection Fund.
