Texas Solar: New Data Says Solar Power Has Increased 6,900% in 10 Years

It's pretty shocking to think a state like Texas could be a national leader in clean energy. Afterall, this is a state full of oil tycoon stereotypes...in fact, there's an entire entertainment industry built around it.

But that's where we are according to new data on wind and solar energy. The new info comes from Environment America, who has run the numbers for all 50 states. This data was provided by the Renewables on the Rise 2024 research from the Environment Texas Research & Policy Center. Not only do they show massive increases for Texas in wind and solar power, but the placement of the state makes them a leader in national rankings.

According to the data, Texas is the #1 state in the nation for wind power generation, #2 for solar power generation, and #3 in the nation for the number of electric vehicle registrations (through 2023).

To reach these numbers, Texas has had to undergo massive growth in these fields. For solar energy production, Texas has seen a 6,900% increase since 2014. There's also been a huge increase in the ability to store this energy; Texas has had a 9,400% increase in battery storage capacity during the same decade.

The battery capacity states are actually even more impressive, when you consider most of the growth has taken place after 2020. So just over the last 3 years.

Ian Seamans from the Environment Texas Policy Research and Policy Center says:

“Millions of Americans and Texans are already reaping the benefits of the dramatic clean energy progress we’ve made so far...With federal tax credits turbocharging clean energy, now is the time for states to lean in to clean energy. In the upcoming legislative session we need legislators to cut the red tape for rooftop solar and reject efforts to hamstring the incredible growth of clean energy in Texas.”

With all of these increases, the state of Texas actually saw 31% of their electricity usage last year created by clean energy. Pretty impressive stats for a state so rooted in the oil and gas industry.