Solar Power Moving Backwards in Texas

A state with many natural advantages for solar power is having a hard time making the business pencil out.

1 minute read

July 15, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Solar Power Plant

U.S. Department of the Interior / Flickr

Jordan Blum reports on the arrested development of the solar industry in Texas. Case in point: Lincoln Clean Energy, which "swooped into Texas last year with plans to build the state’s largest solar farm, a $320 million project covering 2,400 acres in the Texas Panhandle and capable of powering 40,000 homes…"

Lincoln was meant to begin construction six months ago on the project, called Nazareth Solar, but the company is having trouble finding anyone to buy the energy it would produce.

Nazareth Solar is one of at least five projects, according to Blum, that that have been delayed or cancelled. "Rock-bottom natural gas prices, which have lowered the cost of traditional power generation, and a lack of state incentives make it nearly impossible for solar to compete dollar for dollar in the Texas marketplace," according to the article. Solar also has trouble competing with wind in the Texas energy market.

Monday, July 11, 2016 in Houston Chronicle

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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