Renewable energy is booming in Texas with huge projects popping up across the vast expanses of the Lone Star State.
Texas can continue its historic boom in wind, solar and battery storage while protecting the state’s environment and wildlife, according to the recent report Protecting the nature of Texas, powering our clean energy future by Environment Texas Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group.
In the past Texas was known for its oil and natural gas production, but with its abundant renewable energy resources, it is now first in the nation in wind-generated electricity and second for solar energy and battery storage. Combined, these two technologies produced close to 40% of the electricity Texas consumed in 2025, according to Environment America.
[Also read: PV power generation to surpass coal in Texas]
Opposition to large-scale renewable projects is common, but with electricity demand at an all-time high and a Governor who believes in an “all-of-the-above” philosophy when it comes to power generation, it appears the Texas solar boom is here to stay. SEIA projects another 39 GW of solar will be added in Texas over the next five years, with the state becoming the leading solar state in the nation.
This abundance of renewable energy resources has helped reduce reliance on fossil fuels; the production, transportation and combustion of which are inherently more damaging to the environment, public health and communities than renewables, the report points out.
“Renewable energy isn’t impact-free, but drilling, fracking and burning fossil fuels create much more damage,” said Quentin Good, a policy analyst with Frontier Group and co-author of the report. “And while fossil fuels are inherently dirty and dangerous, we know how to build renewables in ways that minimize their impacts on nature.”
Estimates place over 5 million Texans within just a half-mile radius of an operational oil or gas well, more than any state according to a report published in the Dallas Morning News.
Another advantage to clean energy in Texas, especially solar-plus-energy storage, is that it has been shown to bolster the grid’s resilience, helping Texans weather severe storms. Winter storm Uri in 2021, for example, pointed out the deficiencies in the grid and served as a turning point, after which laws were passed that intended to change how the grid must be prepared for extreme weather and how ERCOT is governed. Furthermore, a report by the Environment Texas Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group concluded that if Texas’s full rooftop solar potential had been tapped, devastation from the February 2021 freeze would have been lessened.
While the advantages of clean energy are many, all energy projects come with associated impacts on the environment, and the recent report cites best practices used by renewable energy developers to minimize the impact of projects and enhance the environment.
An example of responsible land use is the practice of agrivoltaics, or the pairing of solar power generation with other productive uses including agriculture, grazing pasture or growing native plants. Planting crops under and around solar modules reduces stormwater runoff, which is advantageous in dry regions in Texas. Grazing animals throughout a solar plant has been shown to improve soil quality, and the shade provided by solar modules can benefit crops grown in Texas such as grapes and agave, the report states.
Potential siting policies, whether statewide or local, should address legitimate conservation concerns around renewable energy without slowing down progress to a cleaner Texas, the report states. If a statewide siting policy regime is adopted in Texas, the report recommends applying these principles:
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) is an area where best practices ensure safety and reduce environmental hazards. As a safety measure, for example, battery installations in Texas are already required to comply with national electrical and fire safety standards. Texas also went a step further in passing a law that includes additional fire safety standards and requires the operator to develop a comprehensive emergency response plan. In 2025, another state law was passed that requires the lessee of a battery system to dispose of and recycle all project components safely.
“Texas has become a clean energy powerhouse. That’s great news for our air, water and climate, but we can’t just build renewables anywhere, anyhow,” said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas Research & Policy Center and co-author of the report. “The good news is that many Texas developers are already showing how to do it right. Now state policymakers should make sure any new rules support that responsible approach rather than blocking clean energy altogether.”
[Also read: Watershed moment for Texas solar]
Those opposed to renewables have used conservation and environmental concerns to justify halting or slowing clean energy projects. “Banning renewable energy wouldn’t protect Texas’ environment,” the report says. “It would mean more air pollution from fossil fuel production and use, greater water use and continued strain on land and wildlife.” The report concludes that by implementing best practices and sound policy, renewable energy projects can limit the impact on the environment and continue to move Texas away from its dependence on fossil fuels.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, July 30, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, July 16, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
The June issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
A two-day conference in Austin, Texas, bringing together leaders in US solar manufacturing, equipment specification, and factory execution.
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
pv magazine USA hosts its third multi-day virtual event on advancing U.S. solar and energy storage markets, covering financing, supply chains, and distributed energy’s role in grid resilience.
You have no items in your basket.
