Texas needs to mandate solar powered homes and businesses. New construction should conform immediately, and existing homes and businesses need to have a time frame to be retro fitted. This is undoubtedly a difficult task. I feel as though as one of the largest and fastest growing states we have the opportunity to be the flagship for the rest of the country. This technology is out there and has been for some time, it is irresponsible for us not to be using it. Homes that have this system installed are capable of actually acquiring a credit on their electric bill if they don’t consume as much as they produce. Now I’m not saying this should happen overnight, I understand it’s not that easy, but at the same time we need to get the ball rolling. Ten years seems to be a reasonable time frame. If tomorrow Texas law mandated that within ten years all homes would need to be solar equipped, and there would be a substantial tax break for those who comply early I believe Texans would jump on board. In the long run these systems pay for themselves. Now I can already hear the complaints, I can’t afford it, how am I going to come up with the money? Those who qualify as low income could receive government low interest financing with a payment that would likely work out to less than their old electric bill. This is not impossible, it can be done, it might not be easy but it is the right thing to do for the future. Regardless of your stance on climate change or the environment no one can deny that oil is not a renewable resource. So if it’s not renewable, and more homes are being built everyday it only makes sense that if we can build self sufficient homes we do so. I think most will find it hard to argue with the logic of efficiency. When I had my home built 2 years ago I was not offered the option to install solar panels but I was asked to fill out a survey that asked if they had been available to me would I have opted for it. That tells me something, it would probably be happening everywhere already if it was profitable for the builders. So why not make it profitable to the builders with tax breaks and incentives for the first to comply. Any time major changes take place there will always be people who oppose, but in this case, for the good of our children, and our children’s children it needs to be done.
Jason Lundin
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Jason Lundin’s commentary regarding solar energy use in Texas is very well written, it states the writer’s stance on the subject very clearly. I agree with his opinion that the use of solar power should be more widely encouraged in Texas. He does a good job of including further direction as to where he thinks the project should move in the future. Also the writer addresses the perspective of someone who might disagree with him.
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