Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

Top Ten Reasons to go Solar

1. Save consumers money

Harnessing Texas' natural resources for the production of high efficiency, clean energy will not only help preserve the environment, it will boost the economy and help energy consumers save money.  Today, Texas households pay 56 percent more in monthly energy costs than the national average.  Customer-generated electricity would enable Texans to reduce their billed energy consumption while adding small contributions of electricity to the grid, thus reducing the demand on direct energy production by utility companies.

Installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels is just one method consumers can utilize to harvest home grown electricity.  By 2025, there will be an estimated 254 square miles of roofs on residential and commercial buildings in Texas.  The potential to utilize our rooftops for harvesting efficient, safe energy can be realized.  By 2025, Texas' rooftops will have the capacity to provide up to 70-80% of annual water heating energy in Texas and could generate 40% of the state's energy resources.  If Texas wishes to realize these opportunities, the transition to smart energy production must begin now.

2. Create jobs

Many recent studies have shown the potential of the renewable energy industry to create jobs.  The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that 1.1 million jobs could be created in the next 10 years through investments in energy efficiency technology.

The development of solar results in higher skill, higher paying manufacturing and installation jobs.  A study by the University of California shows that if we continue with the status quo, about 86,370 new energy jobs will be created by 2020.  However, if 20 percent of our energy came from renewable sources, then we could expect more than 188,000 new energy jobs.  According to this study, solar PV creates more jobs per megawatt of capacity than any other energy technology—20 manufacturing and 13 installation/maintenance jobs per installed megawatt.

3. Make El Paso a leader

For nearly a century, Texas has led the nation in hydrocarbon energy production.  For the next hundred years, Texas is blessed once again to be able to lead in solar energy.  All it takes is political will.  In Texas, El Paso is literally the "Sun City"—we are best positioned to develop, market and lead the state in encouraging solar energy.  With an average of 202 days of sun per year, El Paso ranks sixth in the country for the highest % annual possible sunshine average (85%).  El Paso should be the next solar capitol of Texas.

4. Reduce pollution

Of all 50 states, Texas ranks first in air pollution emissions.  Every day, Texans breathe in the highest amounts of cancer-causing compounds and volatile organic compounds released into the air.  In addition, the state is home to the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the nation; Texas ranks seventh globally in carbon dioxide emissions.  Consequently, in the next 100 years, minimum winter temperatures could increase anywhere from 3-10 ºF, and summer temperatures in Texas could increase by 3-7 ºF.  As a result, the Texas gulf coast will experience increased sea level rise, diminishing groundwater availability and intensified weather events such as droughts and floods.

5. Improve Texans' health

Particle pollution from coal-burning power plants is a very real threat to the health of Texans.  Every year in Texas, exposure from these facilities cause 1,160 premature deaths; 1,791 heart attacks; 34,000 asthma attacks and 144 lung cancer deaths.  In order to prevent and reduce health risks caused by environmental degradation, Texas must promote and incentivize the use of renewable energy technologies.

6. Increase national security

Throughout the years, the U.S. has become more and more dependant on foreign oil.  Today, our country imports two-thirds of its oil from foreign sources, many of whom are governments overtly critical of the United States.  We import 1.394 million barrels of oil per day from Saudi Arabia, 1.028 million barrels per day from Venezuela, and more than 500,000 barrels a day from Iraq.  Every year, we literally send one trillion American dollars overseas to buy foreign oil.  Incorporating more renewable sources into our nation's energy portfolio would both better ensure our security and boost our economy.

7. Promote energy independence

One way that we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil is through the use of photovoltaic (PV) modules (also known as solar panels).  These modules are used as a component in a larger photovoltaic system to offer electricity for commercial and residential applications.  PV modules covering only 0.3 percent of  U.S. land could provide for all of our country's electricity consumption.  Texas alone receives enough solar energy to supply one and a half times the world's current energy consumption.

8. Take advantage of federal solar tax credits

The federal solar tax credit was initially established in 2005 and extended in October 2008.  The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (H.R. 1424) extended the tax credit to small wind-energy systems and geothermal heat pumps, effective January 1, 2008.  The solar investment tax credit provisions:

• extended the 30% tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations for eight years;
• eliminated the $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations (effective for property placed in service after December 31, 2008);
• eliminated the prohibition on utilities from benefiting from the credit;
• allows Alternative Minimum Tax filers, both businesses and individuals, to take the credit;
• authorized $800 million for clean energy bonds for renewable energy generating facilities, including solar.

The credit was further enhanced in February 2009 by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which removed the maximum credit amount for all eligible technologies (except fuel cells) placed in service after 2008.

According to a study by Navigant Consulting, Inc., the 8-year extension of the ITC will create 440,000 permanent jobs and $325 billion in private investment in the solar industry.  Of note, these numbers will in all likelihood increase since Navigant's study did not account for the elimination of the $2,000 cap on the residential tax credit.

9. Reduce/eliminate maintenance

In contrast to wind turbines, solar PV have no moving parts, and thus, no significant maintenance is required.  Many solar PV come with 20 or 25-year guarantees and are very dependable and durable. 

10. Increase energy generated from renewable sources.

Texas is already a national leader in wind energy. Today, the state generates nearly three times as much energy from wind as Iowa, which ranks second.  In some Texas cities, utilities are already looking at the increased use of solar cells as an alternative source of power generation.

In Austin, their electric utility has already opened two photovoltaic generating stations that generate 315 kilowatts of electric power.  The utility has also worked to expand a new rooftop solar program, and incent homeowners to produce their own power.

In Dallas, power utility Oncor has set aside $2 million in incentives for homeowners to install solar water heaters in their homes.  The solar panels can heat up to 80 percent of a household’s hot water.  The utility announced that it will offer further rebates in 2009 to customers who install solar technology in their residences, offering up to $2.46 per watt for up to 10 kilowatts produced in the home.  The company said it will spend $18.5 million in a campaign to increase awareness of PV technology, and train installation and maintenance contractors.

In 2008, 25 U.S. cities won an award for their solar technology adoption at the local level. Houston, Austin, and San Antonio were among the 25 cities chosen for the award.  In the upcoming year, El Paso needs to be included in this list.  For several years, our Senate office has asked El Paso Electric (EPEC) to take much more aggressive steps to lower costs, allow consumers to generate and sell solar power, and put El Paso on the map.  Today, changing EPEC from a 1950s electric company to a 21st century energy company must now be a top community priority.  Becoming a solar city consists of a significant increase in residential solar power use, large-scale solar installations, as well as an increase in public awareness through promotions and citywide education.