As part of the statewide solar energy coalition led by Harris County, commissioners approved by a 3-1 vote for $24 million in federally-funded grants to go towards community partners in San Antonio, advancing the program that aims to provide low-income and disadvantaged communities across Texas with solar energy programs.
During the Feb. 27 court meeting, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey voted in dissent.
This comes as Harris County commissioners voted on the same day to set aside at least $100 million in previously budgeted funds for certain grant-funded programs that could be impacted by federal freezes.
The details
While the Texas Solar for All Coalition was awarded $249.7 million in grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last April, the $24 million in federally-funded EPA grants will go towards San Antonio’s housing authority, Opportunity Home.
Officials with Opportunity Home are expected to deliver distributed solar to more than 5,500 tenants and create $46.3 million in annual household electricity bill savings over the course of 25 years, according to a news release.
The setup
The Texas Solar For All Coalition represents large municipalities, small and midsize cities and counties that span the urban, suburban and rural areas of the state, including Harris County, Tarrant County, Houston, Waco, San Antonio and Austin.
The coalition includes officials from:
- Harris County: will be leading the coalition and represent county and local partners
- Dallas County: will represent city of Dallas, Tarrant County and local partners
- City of Houston
- City of San Antonio
- Opportunity Home: will represent San Antonio's housing authority
- City of Austin: will represent Austin Energy, Travis County and local partners
- City of Waco
- Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute: will represent partners in Cameron County, Willacy County, Brownsville, Laredo, El Paso
- Clean Energy Fund of Texas: will support the statewide single-family program
- Houston Advanced Research Center: will represent partners in Port Arthur and El Paso outside of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas discretion, and support Harris County and Houston
Austin leaders moved last fall to accept $31.59 million of the statewide EPA grant. On Feb. 27, officials also voted to finalize the city's agreement with Harris County to move forward with the funding and Solar for All initiative.
Ben Thompson contributed to this report.
