Residents in Harris County, Texas, may eventually get a break on energy costs through a planned solar installation at Houston's NRG Center, which could reduce annual household electricity costs by about $1,000.
Here's what to know
According to Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, the initiative could reduce annual electricity costs by about $1,000 for around 10,000 households. He also presented it as part of the county's effort to prepare for greater pressure on the power grid as population growth drives up energy demand.
According to Chron, Garcia announced during his State of the Precinct address that construction on the NRG Center solar array is expected to begin on September 14. The installation is tied to Harris County's Affordable Community Energy program, which is intended to pass county energy savings back to residents.
"All told with our solar projects, we expect to be able to enroll around 10,000 households into Harris County's Affordable Community Energy program," Garcia told the publication. "Cutting their electric bills to the tune of about $1,000 per year. That's $10 million of overall savings."
Garcia tied the project to the region's long-term growth, saying the Houston area could add about 3 million residents over 20 years, increasing demands on infrastructure and especially the electric grid. He also said the solar array should produce enough electricity each year to power about 500 homes.
More background
Garcia said the county has added upward of 1 million square feet of office space since 2023 while still saving millions on energy bills.
"The more energy our facilities are creating on their own, the more we save on our electric bill," Garcia said. "More savings means more solar projects, leading to more savings, leading to more energy efficiency measures."
He told Chron, "Solar panels are cool, but not everybody can afford a solar panel. So my focus was always, how can we get this energy into surrounding communities? And we are there."
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NRG Center made sense because of its large rooftop, with Garcia saying the location could "really amplify what we're doing."
Beyond the potential savings on monthly utility bills, Garcia also described solar as a resilience tool.
"When I was sheriff, we had a generator that runs the county jail," Garcia said. "It runs on diesel fuel. So it works, but when you get caught up in a hurricane and the jail becomes an island, then when your diesel runs out, nobody can get to you to refuel it."
Garcia added, "We hope to start enrolling families sometime next year. So stay tuned."
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What can be done?
For those considering going solar at home, it's one of the best ways to save on energy costs over time. With EnergySage, you can get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes, and the average person can save up to $10,000. Comparing multiple quotes can make it easier to avoid overpaying and find the right setup for your home.
Tools such as EnergySage's solar map show the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on local incentives. Together, those resources can help you get the best price for rooftop solar panels.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and even go off-grid. Readers can also explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Where can I learn more?
Solar helps to lower bills and ease pressure on the grid. City programs, battery storage, state policy, and large-scale development can affect what people pay for electricity.
• In San Antonio, Texas' largest municipal solar program is expected to cut power bills by 11%.
• Across Texas, batteries and solar help keep electricity prices lower during punishing summer demand.
• For homeowners nationwide, solar panels can take more than $100 off monthly power bills.
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