Renewable
Energy

Powered by decades of Texas leadership. [

Renewable
Energy
Investment

Powering the rapid expansion of Texas for two decades.
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Renewable
Energy
Investment

Renewable
Energy

Powering Texas homes, businesses and communities with affordable electricity.
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Renewable
Energy

Powering the future of electricity demand for Texas. [

Learn more from Power Up Texas

About the Power Up Texas Alliance

Power Up Texas is an alliance of stakeholders bound by a mission to educate and advocate for innovative, sustainable electricity generation in Texas, including the expansion of clean, renewable energy resources.

Texas has become the national leader for economic expansion, innovation, investment, employment opportunities, sensible regulation and excellent quality of life. People across the country are moving to Texas by the hundreds of thousands each year. As Texas grows, so does our enormous demand for electricity.

Texas is both the #1 energy producer and consumer in the country. Our economy and continued growth are dependent on reliable power, and how we meet this massive demand has tremendous implications. In order to remain on top, Texas should incentivize all forms of energy development and encourage our state’s innovative spirit and uniquely qualified workforce. Renewable energy is helping Texas meet this growing demand for energy, while also providing jobs, bolstering rural economies and supporting communities all across the state.

Alamo Chamber of Commerce logo
Andrews Economic Development Corporation logo
City of Raymondville logo
Fort Stock Economic Development Corporation logo
Levelland Chamber of Commerce
Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
Lubbock Economic Development Alliance
Muleshoe Economic Development Corporation logo
Pharr Economic Development
The Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce logo
Plainview, TX Chamber of Commerce logo
Plainview Hale County Economic Development Corporation logo
RGV Partnership
Starr County Industrial Foundation logo
Snyder Chamber of Commerce
South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce
Sweetwater Economic Development
Texas Association of Business
Greater Waco Chamber logo
Vernon Chamber of Commerce logo
EDUCATION PARTNERS:
UT Permian Basin logo
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley logo

Texas Renewable Energy

Leading the nation

Renewables are the fastest-growing electricity generation source in the United States, with 24% of U.S. electricity generation coming from renewable sources in the first half of 2022.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas led the nation in overall renewable energy production in the first quarter of 2022, accounting for over 14% of the country’s totals.

The success of renewable energy in Texas is the result of strong leadership at every level by creating a competitive market, investing in the power grid, and diversifying our electricity supply for the future, while taking advantage of our state’s most abundant resources.

wind power windmills

Texas Renewable Energy: More than Electricity

Renewable energy technologies like wind, solar, and storage do more than ensure communities can count on reliable power when they need it; renewable energy is an economic boon to Texas, creating jobs, business opportunity, and revenue streams that strengthen communities and provide economic opportunity for families.

From the Panhandle to the Valley, rural communities in Texas are a beacon of growth and industry diversification when it comes to harnessing our abundant natural resources.

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The Economic Impact of Texas Renewable Energy:

GROWING PRODUCTION AND CREATING JOBS

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are more than 300,000 jobs in alternative energy across the country and more than 36,700 of these well-paying jobs are in Texas.

Wind is big business across the country, and nowhere is wind bigger than in Texas. According to the Texas Governor’s Renewable Energy Industry Report, the wind industry employs nearly 26,000 people in Texas. A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council says that each “major” wind farm (250 MW) creates approximately 1,079 jobs throughout the 14 steps of development, including planning, manufacturing, construction, maintenance, and operations.

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36,700
Texas jobs
A TEXAS-SIZED REVENUE GENERATOR

$83 billion invested in renewable energy across Texas has meant substantial state and local tax contributions, often directed toward community development in the form of schools, libraries, hospitals, roads and other local projects.

Supporting Local Communities’:

Schools

Libraries

Hospitals

Roads

STRENGTHENING RURAL COMMUNITIES

Small Texas towns, rural communities, farmers, ranchers, school districts and students realize tremendous financial benefits from the billions that have been invested in wind in the state of Texas. The rest of Texas enjoys affordable electricity that is sustainable for the future. In fact, wind and solar energy have emerged as two of the most affordable and sustainable sources of electricity.

rural communities
RESPONDING TO INCREASING DEMAND

Our communities, state, nation, and world rely on energy produced in Texas now more than ever, and that reliance will only grow as we strive to achieve greater energy security at home and across the globe.

According to the E.I.A., Texas produces more electricity than any other state, generating nearly twice as much as second-place Florida. In 2021, Texas produced about 26% of all U.S. wind-powered electricity generation, leading the nation for the 16th year in a row.

Texas is also becoming a major player in solar energy. Economic development programs such as the Texas Economic Development Act (Chapter 313) have historically helped spur this growth and given counties across the state the ability to attract these projects.

POWERING THE STATE’S LARGEST EMPLOYERS

Corporate customers have signed contracts for more projects in Texas than any other state. In fact, the volume of companies purchasing wind energy is growing, including Facebook, Amazon McDonald’s, Walmart, General Motors, and more.

Governor Abbott recognizes the competitive advantage of renewable energy when attracting new businesses to the state: “In Texas, we lead the nation in wind energy. By the end of next year, we will lead the nation in solar power. We have the capability of providing them [businesses] reliable, renewable energy to help them achieve their [carbon neutrality] goals.” – December 2020

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google logo
gm logo
nestle logo
nike logo
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WATER CONSERVATION

Texas faces a water crisis and our ability to generate electricity is being affected. Using renewable saves scarce water resources and, because they have no emissions, wind and solar help Texas reduce pollution that increases industry environmental compliance costs and the cost of living in non-attainment areas. In 2019, wind-generated energy in Texas prevented the use of roughly 24 billion gallons of water.

Water Saved by Wind Energy in 2019 alone:

30

billion gallons of water

CAPPING EMISSIONS

Renewables significantly reduce air pollutants, having a positive impact on the health of Texans and reducing costs related to poor air quality.

No state is better situated to prosper in the unfolding, clean energy economy than Texas. Our renewable energy resources like wind and solar, our cleaner burning natural gas, our workforce, our technology prowess, and our expertise in energy development and energy markets position us well to lead in delivering the cleaner, cheaper energy that American consumers and American industry demand.

72M

metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions prevented

Texas Energy Policy in 2023

What Happened During the 88th Texas Legislative Session?

During the 88th Legislative Session, Power Up Texas fought hard to protect the future of renewable energy in Texas and were successful in combating many pieces of legislation that aimed to stop production altogether.

Legislation put forth included provisions that would cost Texas consumers, grow the size of government while shrinking our property rights, raise taxes, and devastate rural communities, among other consequences. In retaliation, renewable energy supporters flooded legislators’ inboxes asking them to stand up for clean energy, and Power Up Texas members issued letters, and media outreach efforts garnered nearly 50 stories written about our issues.

While there were many wins this past session for the renewable energy cause, we must be ready to fight again come 2025 during the 89th Legislative Session, and Power Up Texas needs renewable energy advocates from all corners of Texas to do so!

The History of Texas Energy Policy

How did we get here?

The road to renewable energy’s success in Texas began in 1999 under the leadership of then Governor George W. Bush and continued with support from Texas leaders over the past two decades.

Most of Texas’ renewable resources are concentrated in West and South Texas, while the majority of the population and power demand lies in the eastern portion of the state. To address this challenge, then Governor Perry signed legislation directing the development of over 2,300 miles of high-voltage new transmission lines that would allow for the efficient movement of energy from West and South Texas to the high demand centers further east and north.

In 2005, the state legislature amended the mandate to require that 5,880 megawatts, or less than 5% of electric consumption, come from renewable sources by 2015. Lawmakers also set a goal of 10,000 megawatts of renewable capacity by 2025. Texas surpassed the 2015 goal in 2005 and the 2025 goal in 2009, almost entirely with wind power. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) collaborated with ERCOT, Texas’ self-contained electric grid, to establish the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ).

Completed in 2013, the $6.9 billion CREZ transmission project transmits more than 18.5 MW of wind, solar and gas generated electricity across Texas. But, development and demand are beginning to overtake bandwidth, and without expansion, potential industry investments that are powering rural communities across the state will stall.

Power Up Texas will advocate for the continuation and expansion of these policies that have supported the industry and allowed for immense growth.

“The state’s investment in adequate transmission capacity was vital as it provided access to wind generation in remote areas of Texas for customers hundreds of miles away in high-density population areas across the state,” Abbott said. “In addition, the unique presence of one electric grid for most of the state—the Electric Reliability Council of Texas region—creates an advantage over other states.”

– Governor Greg Abbott

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