Texas clean energy supports local communities and bolsters the grid

Aug. 27, 20248 AM Central

Long a national and global leader in energy production, the Texas energy economy continues to grow at a rapid pace, and clean energy is a key pillar of that growth. The Lone Star State recently became the nation’s leader in utility-scale solar energy installed on the grid, and the state was already the leading wind producer for the last 17 years. This new status as the solar leader is just another indicator of clean energy’s success – and Texas communities are benefiting.

Invenergy is proud to work with local communities to contribute to the growing energy economy in the state – our growing portfolio of 21 projects developed across 15 counties in Texas generates more than 4,400 megawatts, enough to power about 1.3 million homes. Invenergy Services also operates 27 clean energy sites around the state. Backed by more than 15 years of experience in Texas, Invenergy’s energy footprint makes us the partner of choice to achieve Texas’ energy goals. We are accelerating the installation of cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy, and we recognize a key building block of that future is continued investment in the many Texas communities that are home to our employees and projects.

The impact of this growth is not hard to see – renewables-related jobs already encompass the largest share of energy generation jobs in Texas, and clean energy jobs are forecasted to grow more than 7% in Texas in 2024, outpacing the rest of the country.

“The Samson Solar Energy Project is a flagship project for Texas, not just because of its scale, but also because of its extensive collaboration with local partners and the tangible, positive impact on its communities. It’s our first solar project in Texas and it’s paving the way for continued investment in the Texas communities that power the state.”
— Bristi Cure, Senior Vice President, Invenergy

As our flagship solar project, the record-setting Samson Solar Energy Center is at the forefront of Texas’ solar boom, bolstering reliability, and supplying clean, cost-effective power to the Texas grid. Its development and operation brought hundreds of construction jobs and significant investment to the surrounding communities.

The project’s scale and local impact is a prime example of what the growing clean energy economy means for Texas communities and the people who live in them. Invenergy has produced a documentary, Red River Valley Harvest, that tells the human story of the energy expansion in Texas. The project’s success is tied directly to the support of local landowners, and the short film captures the Texan spirit driving the renewable energy boom in Texas – the stories of Texans we’re partnering with to advance projects that help build an electricity grid fit for the future.

“They came in and did a great job fixing up the infrastructure around here. They seem to hire a lot of people, which has boosted our local economy. A lot of these people came in from somewhere else, but they’ve also hired a lot of people locally as well, but they spend their money here.”
— Charlie Martin, Samson Solar project landowner

Texas continues to be one of the fastest growing states in the country, and the state is projected to grow by three to five million people by 2036 and reach more than 36 million by 2060. Texas is already the number one consumer and producer of electricity in the country, and the demand for secure, lower cost, and lower carbon power in Texas will undoubtedly grow in kind with the booming population. Invenergy is ready to work with Texans to meet that demand.

By Invenergy