Texas solar industry is on a roll, 2nd only to California

PHOTOS: Growing solar power These are solar panels at the Alamo 6 Solar Farm in Pecos County, Texas built by San Antonio-based OCI Solar Power. >>See how the world's largest solar plant operates differently than you'd think ... less PHOTOS: Growing solar power These are solar panels at the Alamo 6 Solar Farm in Pecos County, Texas built by San Antonio-based OCI Solar Power. >>See how the world's largest solar plant operates ... more Photo: John Davenport, STAFF / San Antonio Express-News Photo: John Davenport, STAFF / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Texas solar industry is on a roll, 2nd only to California 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

The Texas solar industry is on a roll, installing nearly as much solar capability during the first three months of the year as it did during all of 2017. Only California is installing solar capacity faster, according to a report by Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association.

The expansion is a welcome development for the industry that has been weathering a slowdown after the U.S. imposed a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels and cells earlier this year. As a result, some projects were delayed or canceled.

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But the second quarter shows signs of a turnaround, helped by lower prices for component parts and lower-than-expected tariffs on imported solar panels, according to the report.

Texas installed 639 megawatts of solar power capability during the second quarter, compared to 654 megawatts during 2017, according to the report.

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Texas is the fifth largest solar producing state with 2,623 megawatts of total solar installed, enough to power 300,000 homes. The solar industry has created nearly 9,000 jobs in Texas, according to the report.











