AUSTIN, April 21 - Environmentalists and elected officials from both main parties are lauding Senate passage of legislation that gives additional incentives for residents and businesses to purchase solar energy in Texas.

Sen. Eliot Shapleigh says that as a result of the legislation, El Paso can become a state leader in solar energy generation, pointing out that since the early days of the Sun Carnival, his city has been known as “Sun City.”

Senate Bill 545, authored by Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, creates a half-billion dollar fund to pay for up to one-third the cost of installation of solar technologies.

Combined with federal tax credits of 30 percent, the bill would put solar within reach for thousands of Texas families and could lead to the installation of up to 1000 megawatts of solar within ten years, Fraser said.

The legislation incorporates concepts from several different Senate bills introduced this session, including some from Shapleigh, D-El Paso.

“Texas has been extremely successful in establishing clean, efficient energy from renewable resources. This legislation providing for solar generation as another source of renewable energy is a very positive step for the people of Texas,” Fraser said.

“We take pride in the fact that Texas is recognized as the national leader in renewable energy - especially wind generation. Senate Bill 545 allows our state to become more energy independent and meet our renewable energy goals through the installation of solar generation.”

Fraser listed some of the highlights in his bill:

* Increase the distributed solar generation incentive program to raise $100 million each year for five years to subsidize solar in Texas and allow the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to extend the incentive program for an additional five years;

* Allow the PUC to direct the development of utility scale solar in West Texas in order to maximize the utilization of the transmission lines built through the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) program;

* Provide for a rebate for solar products manufactured wholly or substantially in Texas;

* Authorize the State Energy Conservation Office to establish a revolving loan program to help school districts install solar systems on their schools;

* Establish net metering policies that require customers to receive real time market price for exported energy or to receive any other acceptable offer from a retail electric provider;

* Prohibit a homeowners association from disallowing homeowners from installing solar, with certain exceptions; and

* Require homebuilders in new subdivisions to offer solar as an option for new home buyers.

“Texas has been the national leader in renewable standards and it is important that the Legislature continue to look for ways to allow our state to become more energy independent. Today, we have moved one step closer to this goal,” Fraser said.

“This legislation will encourage economic growth in Texas while still meeting our energy independence goals. I look forward to continuing to work with my House colleagues on SB 545 as it moves through the legislative process.”

Fraser chairs the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce and sits on the Senate committees on Natural Resources, State Affairs, and International Relations and Trade.

Shapleigh is vice chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and Military Instillations and sits on the Senate committees on Health & Human Services, Nominations and Transportation & Homeland Security.

“In Texas, El Paso is literally the Sun City—we are best positioned to develop; market and lead in solar energy,” Shapleigh said.

“For several years, we have asked El Paso Electric to take much more aggressive steps to lower costs, allow consumers to generate and sell solar power and put El Paso on the map. Changing EPEC from a 1950s power company to a 21st Century energy company must now be a top community priority.”

Shapleigh said that by allowing for investment in solar technology, SB 545 is a “significant step” toward creating thousands of solar-related jobs in Texas and could lead to more manufacturing locating in the state.

“Texas alone receives enough solar energy to supply one and a half times the world's current energy consumption. Today, Texas households pay 56 percent more in monthly energy costs than the national average,” Shapleigh said.

“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.”

Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger applauded passage of Fraser’s bill.

“This bill would put Texas on the map when it comes to solar power. We have the sun, we have the technological know-how. Now, we’ll have a market that can make Texas a world leader in solar power,” Metzer said.

Metzer pointed out that the bill also requires homebuilders to offer solar as a standard option in developments with 50 homes or more, creates a loan program for solar on schools, and prohibits homeowners associations from blocking solar. Up to 70 percent of the funds could be used for utility-scale solar projects.

Metzer said the solar fund expires after five years, unless the PUC determines that a “substantial amount of manufacturing of solar generation products located in Texas after the initial five-year program”, in which case the program could be extended for another five years and another $500 million.

“Texas has tremendous potential to develop solar technologies,” said Metzger. “With our sometimes-almost-unbearable amount of sunlight, chemical companies producing solar-grade silicon, and semiconductor companies producing photovoltaic equipment, Texas could become a world solar leader, creating thousands of manufacturing, engineering, and installation jobs and attracting billions in investment to the state.”

The House Energy Resources committee is expected to soon consider legislation by Rep. David Swinford, R-Amarillo, that would create a solar rebate program to install 3000 megawatts of solar by 2020.