Austin City Council Approves Two Game-Changing Local Solar Programs

October 25, 2024

Austin City Council Approves Two Game-Changing Local Solar Programs

Commercial Building Owners Can Now Get Paid to Host Solar Energy Systems and Low-Income Customers Can Apply for Free Solar and Batteries

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin City Council approved two new Austin Energy solar programs on Thursday that will boost deployment of rooftop solar as the city takes an important step in securing a clean energy future.

The council approved a rate for the Solar Standard Offer program allowing property owners to host rooftop solar systems without using their money or credit. Solar developers will lease roof space from property owners, build and operate the solar systems, and sell the energy directly to Austin Energy. The added local solar capacity will expand Austin Energy's popular Community Solar program that lets residential customers choose solar-generated energy without installing a solar system. The Solar Standard Offer program starts with medium and large commercial customers, but it is scheduled to expand to all Austin Energy service area properties by January 2026. The Community Solar program is open to residential customers.

Council also appropriated $31.5 million in grant funding awarded to Austin Energy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and added three full-time positions to implement the Solar for All program. The program will deploy rooftop solar installations and batteries at low-income homes and community buildings. Customers will be paid to host the solar and battery systems and eligible to participate in a community solar program that will provide a 20% bill reduction. Hosts can also use solar and battery systems to back up power during outages. Austin Energy will aggregate the solar and battery resources and deploy them to reduce utility costs.

Kaiba White, climate policy and outreach specialist with the Texas office of Public Citizen, issued the following statement:

"The addition of the Solar Standard Offer and the Solar for All programs at Austin Energy are game-changers representing a forward-looking vision that other Texas cities should consider. Austin Energy needs more local energy production, and the people of Austin need clean air and affordable, reliable energy. These programs will fulfill these goals while creating green jobs and other economic benefits in our community. Local solar and batteries are key to a future without polluting fossil fuels.

"Austin has immense untapped rooftop solar potential. Giving property owners the option to earn money from hosting solar energy installations instead of asking them to pay for the installations themselves eliminates the biggest barrier to solar adoption. Aggregating customer-sited batteries to reduce costs for Austin Energy is also a much-needed and welcome addition that should be expanded to all customers with batteries."