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By Shelby Webb | 05/14/2026 06:53 AM EDT
Federal researchers say solar on Texas’ main power grid may reach new heights in 2026, while Republicans continue to criticize renewable energy.
The sun reflects off a solar panel in Buckholts, Texas. Ashley Landis/AP
Solar power is poised to outproduce coal generation over a full year for the first time in Texas, offering a bright spot for renewable energy after frequent attacks from the Trump administration.
Utility-scale solar generation is expected to churn out 78 billion kilowatt-hours throughout 2026 in Texas’ main power grid, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That dwarfs the expected 60 billion kWh from coal power plants in the region, EIA said in a report Wednesday.
Solar’s share of generation within the region managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas jumped from 4 percent to 12 percent between 2021 and 2025, EIA found. And Pablo Vegas, the CEO of ERCOT, said at a Texas Senate committee hearing in April that proposed solar projects account for more than one-third of the 450 gigawatts of generation looking to plug into the grid. Batteries are also in high demand.
“Over 75 percent of the total interest is still with solar and battery storage resources,” Vegas said at the hearing. “The economics in our market are still highly favorable to those two resources.”
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