Thanks to a new law in Texas, homeowners are now able to install solar panels and battery storage easier and faster.
Senate Bill 1202, which took effect September 1, streamlines the permitting process for solar and battery installations by cutting red tape, a timely change as federal tax credits begin to phase out.
According to The Cool Down, it can take up to several months to get approval for small-scale, straightforward rooftop solar or battery installations. Bipartisan bill SB 1202 allows licensed third-party professionals like engineers and electricians to review plans and perform inspections for solar+storage. Once a third party submits the approvals, construction can begin right away.
The bill was signed into law by Governor Abbott in July.
“By streamlining solar and battery installations, this law empowers Texans to strengthen their homes against outages, cut energy costs, and lower emissions—building a cleaner, more resilient energy system for everyone,” said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, in a statement.
While Texas ranks third in the nation for total residential solar power generation, it comes in 20th for per capita small scale solar, largely due to the absence of a statewide solar incentive, no net metering, poor interconnection standards, and cumbersome municipal permitting processes.
Metzger continued, “When it comes to Texas’s solar energy potential, the sky’s the limit. Our state legislators recognized both the opportunity in front of us and their constituents’ desire to take advantage of it. With this new, better system, our state’s energy security and independence can grow to new heights.”
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