Solar Energy

Due to the infrastructure created by (i) the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ Competitive Renewable Energy Zones transmission lines (CREZ line) that carry electricity from the Texas Panhandle to the more densely populated areas in Texas (e.g., Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio) and (ii) the Southwest Power Pool efforts to expand transmission facilities, the Texas Panhandle and South Plains have seen a surge in interest in solar development. With the majority of wind electricity production at night, the transmission lines have the capacity to carry solar electricity during the day to better meet peak demand. Wind and solar development have the potential to complement each other. When transmission capacity is coupled with the abundant land, friendly landowners, and easy permitting, the area is seeing and is poised to see a boom in utility-scale solar projects.