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As the Texas Legislature adjourns its 2025 session, three controversial bills that posed serious risks to the state’s clean energy sector—Senate Bills 388, 715, and 819—have failed to pass. The bills, which could have slowed renewable energy development, weakened the grid, and undermined rural economies, were widely opposed by a broad coalition including the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), energy experts, business leaders, and rural landowners. While this marks a major victory for the state’s rapidly growing clean energy economy, a new and potentially more serious threat is emerging at the federal level. SEIA’s analysis of the U.S. House-passed tax reconciliation bill warns that, if enacted without changes, it could lead to the closure or cancellation of 51 planned solar and storage manufacturing facilities in Texas alone. The impact could be severe: the bill could jeopardize an estimated 34,100 clean energy jobs across the state by 2030, undermining both economic growth and Texas’ energy security. ”Texas is the energy capital for a reason, and by refusing to wrap clean energy generation in red tape, Texas state leaders just showed us why,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s president and CEO.“Simply put, the economic reality and math of energy demand prevailed in Austin, and that is a good thing for Texans’ energy bills, the economy, and grid reliability. Now, Congress should take the same evidence-based approach and protect clean energy tax credits that are benefiting all Americans.” “SB 388, SB 715, and SB 819 failed to pass because a majority of Texas legislators looked at the facts and recognized the proposals for what they were: bad policy,” Hopper added. “With energy demand rising fast in Texas and across the country, we need every electron we can generate to keep the lights on and our economy strong. The road to meeting energy demand goes through solar and storage — the fastest and most cost-effective ways to add capacity to the grid — and Congress must keep that road as smooth as possible. Texas’ energy and economic future are on the line.” |
