Texas solar industry anticipates 200 percent capacity increase over next five years
With expectations for solar output in the state to more than double in 2016, Texas is poised to top the list of fastest-growing utility-scale solar markets in the U.S. by 2021.
Beginning the year with unprecedented growth in the solar industry, Texas is currently building on the 266 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity presently installed in the state, with plans for an additional 4,600 MW over the next five years.
“Texas is entering a period of unprecedented solar growth, dominated by a massive uptick in utility-scale solar deployment across the state,” Tom Kimbis, Solar Energy Industries Association interim president, said. “This strong demand for solar energy is generating thousands of well-paying jobs for Texans, hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits, and providing customers with another option for meeting their electricity needs. And the best part – this solar boom is just beginning.”
Solar energy currently powers 61,000 homes in Texas, placing the state’s solar industry in the top 20 percent of U.S. states.
“True to form, everything is bigger in Texas – including solar,” Kimbis said. “With continued innovation and cost declines, the future for solar both in Texas and across the country is looking brighter than ever.”
More than 7,000 Texans are currently employed at approximately 500 solar power companies across the state.
