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Harris County leaders broke ground on the first of seven community solar program sites during a ceremony Sept. 30. 
The program is designed to expand clean energy access and affordability for low-income residents countywide, the leaders said during a press conference.
The groundbreaking ceremony — held at the Reliant Center — marks the start of the county’s Affordable Community Energy Program, aimed at funding clean energy initiatives to relieve the cost burden on low-income households, according to a press release. ACE is the region’s first county-led community solar program, per the release. 
The program is designed to combat “rising energy costs for low-income communities” and address the need for “enhanced grid resilience during extreme weather events and power outages,” according to Harris County Commissioners Court meeting documents. The court approved an $88.3 million investment in the program during the March meeting.
ACE will generate up to 45 megawatts of solar energy and 20 megawatt-hours of battery storage on publicly owned land, per the release.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said the program is a “win for affordability.” 
“This is public land being put to work for the public,” Briones said. “This is Harris County creating solar energy to make sure that those who are most vulnerable, at or below 80% of the area median income, will be able to get direct savings on their energy bills.” 
The county is expected to deliver about 20% in energy bill cuts for 9,500 to 10,000 income-qualifying households, according to the release. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said it could save households $930 annually.
“Energy is not a luxury,” Garcia said. “It is something every family needs every day.”
The groundbreaking comes less than a week after a federal judge ruled the Environmental Protection Agency unlawfully canceled $7 billion in Solar For All grants across the country, according to a Sept. 23 news release from the Harris County Attorney’s Office. Harris County received $54 million through the program, per the release. 
As the county begins its work on the program, Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin said her office is “committed to continuing the fight for those federal dollars.” 
“The people of Harris County cannot afford to wait,” Kamin said. 
Construction on the Reliant Center site is expected to be completed in 2027, according to the release, with construction on the other six sites continuing through 2029. 
Participating residents receive credits on their monthly electricity bills instead of having solar panels installed on their homes or apartments, according to the Sept. 30 release. 
Power generated from the county’s panels will be sold in the retail electric market, with savings credited to households, according to the ACE website. 
The county will install solar panels at its seven sites, offering energy cost breaks without disturbing households.
The program is expected to begin resident enrollment in 2027, per the website. Renters and homeowners will be eligible to enroll.
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