Growing renewables in Texas while protecting wildlife, water, air and land

Texas is now the nation's leader in wind power and ranks second for solar and battery storage, with wind and solar together supplying close to 40% of the electricity Texans used in 2025. A new report from Environment Texas Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group says the state can keep growing renewables while protecting land, water, and wildlife. Industry forecasts point to another 39 gigawatts of solar built in Texas over the next five years, which would make it the top solar state in the country.

For homeowners, the report highlights how solar paired with battery storage can make the grid more reliable during extreme weather, an issue that became painfully clear during the 2021 winter freeze known as Winter Storm Uri. Researchers found that if Texas had tapped its full rooftop solar potential at the time, the damage from that freeze would have been less severe. This is relevant to anyone weighing whether rooftop solar or a home battery might add resilience during future storms or grid strain.

The report also points to safety rules already in place for large battery storage systems, including fire safety standards and requirements for safe disposal and recycling of battery components, plus practices like "agrivoltaics," combining solar farms with farming or grazing, to limit land impact. None of this changes rebates or incentives available to individual homeowners right now, but it signals that Texas is likely to keep expanding solar, wind, and battery storage statewide, with policymakers being urged to set clear, science-based siting rules rather than blocking projects outright.