Conversation

Is because it’s easier to build in Texas. Better policy.

yup, they make it easier to build all types of energy infrastructure, including solar.

It’s also because Texas has an easy permitting process

Yup, for everything

Amalgamated Sludge, LLC

@SludgeLLC

what are the federal subsidies/tax credits available for building solar? Are they sufficient to cover construction/operation even if you sell the power for zero?

Ummm…. $42.51 in subsidies per MwH produced… Yea, it’s easy to be economically competitive when your costs are paid by someone else…

James Robertson

@jatony57

William Johnson - Let the Data Speak!

So, let free markets sort out climate change concerns.

Cool chart!

Increased by 64% Texas solar power has, in one year. Not because the Texas government favors solar, it is. In sunny places, economically competitive solar is. Yes, mmhmm.

I'd add the caveat with an abundance of land acquirable at desirable prices/lease terms.

If trump can clear the backlog, there's plenty of energy. 2Tw

Is that with or without government subsidies?

I'd like to remind everyone that the state with the most solar incentives is less than sunny...Minnesota

Even more so is that storage attachment rates … VPPs are no joke.

Still horrible EROI but glad to see improvements

Sunny places *with* Gigwatts upon Gigawatts of Bitcoin miners to soak up the extra load. Else it would not make any sense and would not be growing the way it is. Not a generalizable model.

@johnson_wrjohn1

No grid has reduced costs due to solar It's not economical because when it displaces hydrocarbons, it lowers their CF increasing their costs and therefore price More Solar =

constraint Note how in the following example the blended cost increases as gas generation CFs fall.

155

confirmed misanthrope

@blatant_sock

Dennis "Bitcoin Renaissance" Donnelly

I admit I've changed my mind on solar over the years. But wind I've been dead right about.

And on a night?

it is also worth noting that even in Massachusetts (my home state), rooftop solar is actually competitive too. The incremental gains in panel efficiency translate to massive increases in throughput.

The economic competitiveness of solar is what's driving growth in Texas, not government favoritism.

356

@Cowaboonga1435

Nothing can stop the clean power revolution Economics 101 - lowest cost energy wins long term solar + batt will increasingly dominate other forms of power being highly decentralized and scalable Bitcoin + Starlink + solar + batt = gainful money minting

Solar is worse for the environment then coal

Puddleglum

@sictransitglora

But federal tax incentives indeed favor solar enhancing its competitiveness no?

TX latitude is relevant too. Solar insolation is worse in Minnesota

This is why electricity went up 50% in cost too Cool

There are some geographic regions where solar or wind power are especially useful, and others where they cannot be relied upon. That should be obvious.

And they make the process of building things easier, faster, cheaper, and more predictable. No NIMBY group protesting every installation and suing to block a project for years based on the allegation that a solar panel is going to ruin the view from their mansion.

Solar isn't bad in deserts or when u put panels on roofs. Destroying forested to make solar farms is anti conservationist and all wind power is anti conservationist

Maximillian Levin

@MaxLevin23

Do you think if i camp out the CA legislature and show this graph enough times, I can convince them to lets us build something? not because of the million reasons it would be good but solely because we should beat Texas

Do you have a comparison to California on generation and buildout?

ICE has a solar shape price you will see that that value of the solar shape is shit

Shīsā

@WShiisaa

You love to see it

Quote

Joey Politano 🏳️‍🌈

@JosephPolitano

Jan 24

Replying to @JosephPolitano

The big powerhouse grower in the US solar industry has been Texas—the state's solar output is up 64% compared to this time last year, and for the first time it produces more utility-scale solar than California (though CA still produces more in total because of its rooftop solar)

The Republican party has been captured by the fossil fuel industry for decades. Why y'all acting all surprised?

Ben Niall

@BenNiall1

And permitting is 1000x easier ! Dems need to run on deregulation of planning and removing burden on small business - tax the big corps , Lina khan back , tax the rich

@tangobastogne

Nooo, it is because the federal government, via tax credits, is getting the panels and windmills over a hurdle rate. End the tax credits and you end the panels and windmill construction.

Arden ! Eryx

@___eryx___

Contact someone in the administration and tell them to do something about it . Call David Sacks and others maybe . They will listen

Lauren Gilbert

@notanastronomer

[reading from the UK

]

But Solar is hideous and unnatural, really disrupts the landscape Nuclear is the only long term high energy solution. We want maximum power generation for maximum consumption. High energy = prosperity

wjm

@juurierherheeh

Did the government not just give away $800B in “inflation reduction”

Above The Gods

@AboveTheGods_

This isn’t really true. ————————— 1. Texas offers a 100% property tax exemption on the appraised value of on-site solar/wind (Texas is top 5 in property taxes). 2. Solar/wind producers and installers receive a franchise tax exemption. 3. The state created the Competitive

B. de Boinville

@B_de_Boinville

But when it's not summer and / or the sun is not shining brightly, the lower production capacity available must be boosted by fossil fuels or batteries. So the real costs are far higher.

Travis Ore

@travis_ore

It also has nothing to do with the fact anything other than solar and wind gets held up in red tape from Washington FOREVER........

PureLiberty

@PureL1berty

Remove all regulatory restrictions on nuclear energy and see what happens.

Sam Houston

@SamHous80050613

We’re fine with that if no taxes are involved.

Giovanni Vinopesce

@vinopesce

I think most conservatives just want to let the market work. If solar and wind are cost effective without subsidies so be it. Same with nuclear. Get rid of the red tape that makes it take a decade to do something that took 3 years in the 1950’s.

@cncrndcalgarian

Texas Tax Code Incentives for Renewable Energy

In the right proportion, it is. Given obvious intermittency issues, would need to add in the cost of large scale energy storage for solar and wind to ever stand on their own, which doesn’t work. Still need that underlying, reliable and affordable baseload.

Subsidies abound in Texas. In addition to all this, texaslandcan.org/article/Texas-. There are right to grid policies, etc.

texaslandcan.org

Texas Tax Code Incentives for Renewable Energy - Although the state does not have a tax exemption program at this time that provides funding of renewable energy equipment on an individual basis,...

Joe Barros

@JoeBarros17

Excellent. May the best source of energy win the race. Common sense

George Darroch

@georgedarroch

Nova Operation: 5B Maverick solar deployment success story

and it can be built almost immediately - like, literally:

youtube.com

IGO Ltd. unlocks the power of renewables on its Nova Operation in collaboration with Zenith Energy and 5B. Land optimisation is essential for large-scale dev...

Sam Houston

@SamHous80050613

Hey guys: another household can buy a dryer now!

edwardo machino

@eddy_machino

How much if any government subsidy is responsible for installing all of the solar?

Bill Alberts

@logdoggy

Natural gas prices have doubled in the last 6 months, so they are now making twice as much money on exporting the gas not used for electricity production.

René Dercksen

@ReneDercksen

When the Sunday seiners and you need it the least

Ivan

@FrostedSapling

Didn’t the Inflation Reduction Act also speed this up?

DynamicGOP

@DynamicGOP

until its not and then you have toxic junk which cant be recycled, the true solar energy is photosynthesis in organic farming and agro forestry

GeorgeTheDragon

@MickeyMous15121

Intermittent solar energy is less valuable than on demand, baseload, high inertia energy. Transmission and storage for intermittent power remain extremely expensive.

Tim Larson

@tlarson95425

No it didn't. Texas solar went up 100x in 10 years ('10-21) from near nothing (2units) to slightly more than nothing (200units) out of >> 14,000 units <<!! So not really a thing... RE = junk

Paul Adams

@pauladamsalber1

Fossil fuels don't exist.. Deepest oil well is 12 miles. Deepest known fossils 1.4 miles. The deeper we go the more oil we get. It's obviously coming from the earth naturally nonstop. We have more oil today than ever before.

Long-Term Investor

@long_term_inves

If the world figures out affordable 6-month electricity storage, then the world will run on solar

I don't get why people are against it.

Zach

@WiedowerZ

All forms of energy should be promoted that makes sense.

Denis Karablev

@tvguidemsk

MagicSam (aka Fultz Force Five & Fat Jimmy)

The celling now is battery systems. They need 5-10 y to grow up in manufacturing capacity.

@jj4t12win10

Is it competitive without government subsidies and tax breaks though?

mike w

@id36651