At 95° F, you step into the gleaming sunlight, your hair feels like a wad of R-500 insulation, and you think, “Austin is a bit cooler today than normal.” The Texas sun is powerful. So powerful, in fact, that the state has the most solar energy potential in the nation.

You would think we would be taking advantage of this VIP access to our local massive ball of gas. Ironically, although Texas has the most potential for solar power, it also makes the least use of it. The Lone Star State is the number one carbon emitter in the US, despite the fact that, according to Environment Texas, “30 square miles provides enough solar energy to power the entire state” (www.environmenttexas.org).

We can focus on our oil troubles or we can focus on moving towards the enormously hopeful source of energy surrounding us. Let’s direct our energies toward increasing the use of solar power in Texas.

P.S.

If you’re concerned about the costs of adding a solar system to your home, check out the stats from the State Energy Conservation Office. Turns out that from the very beginning, you can save more money via solar panels than you lose with loans to purchase them.