Solar and Storage Industry Statement: Texas Rejected Anti-Energy Legislation. Now It's Congress' Turn. 

AUSTIN — The Texas Legislature adjourns its 2025 legislative session today, and three bills that threatened to derail Texas’ clean energy boom, destabilize the grid, and harm rural economies and tax bases — Senate Bills 388, SB 715, and SB 819 — failed to pass.

“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.”

SEIA, energy trade groups, Texas grid experts, business leaders, and rural landowners opposed the state legislative proposals threatening to harm clean energy generation. But a new threat to the state’s economy and energy security has emerged: SEIA’s analysis found that the U.S. House-passed tax reconciliation bill, if enacted without changes, could trigger the closure or cancellation of 51 solar and storage factories in Texas and risk 34,100 Texans’ jobs by 2030.

“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 continued. “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.”

The Texas legislature also passed a trio of bills to strengthen Texas homeowners’ freedom to choose the affordable, clean solar and storage they are demanding.

“More and more Texans are turning to rooftop solar and home battery storage to strengthen their energy freedom and resiliency while lowering their bills, and they deserve to have as smooth an experience as possible,” said Hopper. “SB 1202 will streamline installations of home backup power systems like solar and storage. SB 1036 and SB 1697 will ensure that Texans interested in investing in rooftop solar are able to make informed transactions with responsible companies.”

Texas is the fastest-growing solar market in the country, installing more solar and storage capacity than any other state since 2023. The solar industry has invested over $50 billion into the Texas economy and employs over 12,400 Texans. Nearly 300,000 Texans have installed solar on their homes, the 3rd most of any state in the country.  

SEIA is urging Congress to revise the tax legislation to protect solar and storage investments and support American jobs, manufacturing, energy security, and consumer choice. 

###

About SEIA®:
The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy. SEIA works with its 1,200 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

Media Contact:
Jacob Weinberg, SEIA’s Senior Manager of Communications, [email protected] (703) 350-3774