As we’ve started doing every month, we’ve compiled interesting and/or important solar news from around Texas for April.

Here’s what’s happening around our state so far this month related to the solar and battery energy storage sector:

AG Paxton Launches Residential Solar Fraud Investigation

Our attorney general, Ken Paxton, has issued civil investigative demands to Freedom Forever, Sunrun, Lone Star Solar Services, and CAM Solar (reporting by Solar Power World,) investigating them for potential violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices based on the Consumer Protection Act. Over 100 complaints have been filed with the AG’s office against these companies, with allegations including misrepresentation of energy bill savings and equipment implementations. Office of the Attorney General

*NATiVE note* We knew there were some bad actors in our industry -everybody has heard or read about the horror stories. As a member of AMICUS Solar co-op and a trusted name in the Texas solar energy design/engineering/procurement/construction business since 2007, we’ve stayed far away from offering the shady system performance claims and opaque financing structures that are being investigated by the A.G. We have always aimed to lead with integrity and deliver that promise. This investigation -along with the new Texas solar industry regulations that passed last year- will hopefully go a long way as forcing the bad actors out of business -and keep the others trustworthy and professional. (reporting by  solarpowerworldonline.com)

Clean Earth Opens Solar Panel Recycling in Lancaster, TX

Clean Earth announced TCEQ-authorized solar panel recycling services at its Lancaster, Texas facility, capable of processing 600,000 panels annually. (GlobeNewswire reporting).   This new facility directly supports compliance with recent Texas legislation (HB 3228/HB 3229) requiring state-licensed recycling of all recyclable components at decommissioned solar facilities.

*NATiVE note*  – Most solar panels have a normal lifespan of about 25 years. Some panels become damaged and need to be replaced. We try to do our best to ensure that any panels we remove for replacement are disposed of by reputable reprocessing facilities. As good stewards to the planet we all share, NATiVE will continue to consider (and act with conscience!) the local and global impacts for all aspects of our work. Clean Earth (and other similar Texas solar recycling firms) are tremendously important resources for realizing our commitments here. This newly online facility will make it easier for companies like NATiVE to transport decommissioned solar panels -which do contain small amounts of heavy metals-  and ensure that hazardous waste won’t enter watersheds or contaminate soil.

New Solar Farm (and battery energy storage!) and Grid Expansion Projects Coming Online / Under Development

• Geronimo Power‘s 270-MW Blevins solar + 360 MWh BESS (battery energy storage) plant in Falls County started commercial operations, supplying Fujifilm (125 MW) and Bristol Myers Squibb (145 MW) under long-term PPAs. PV Tech   (*This is a ton of new solar-harvested electricity supply that is now flowing into our over-extended Texas grid. Promises made -promises kept. Now if we can keep the pressure on state energy operators to keep building out additional power line capacity that would be great*)
• ERCOT is launching a $33 billion grid expansion, including  over 2,400 miles of 765-kV “super highway” lines to address surging demand from data centers and the Permian Basin and the extra capacity coming online with the additional of new solar farms and clean gas generation plants. These high-capacity lines,, such as those proposed by Oncor and LCRA will deliver over double the voltage of current infrastructure.
• Meta and developer Zelestra are building the 850-acre “Skull Creek” 176-MW solar farm in Anderson County, with construction starting June 2026. KLTV   (*We reported recently on this a few months ago but there was no solid agreement in place or ground-breaking timeline. We now have a solid construction start date!*)
• Matrix Renewables’ 210-MW Stillhouse Solar Farm in Bell County started commercial operations, backed by a 15-year PPA with Hyundai Motor Group affiliates. Parliament Energy and Ideematec announced 1.2 GW of tracker agreements for three Texas solar projects. (reporting by Solar Builder Magazine)
• US Modules Opens Solar Panel Assembly Plant in College Station (Early April)   A new solar panel assembly facility is now operational in College Station, TX, with a first production line making 400 MW of PERC panels annually, room to scale to 1.4 GW. Solar Power World All panels are for the parent company’s own 3.5 GW development pipeline.  (*Domestic solar panel production has been slow to catch up with other countries around the globe. It’s important for us (NATiVE) to maximize the amount of domestically-sourced solar components for the solutions we build. Texas seems to be ramping up on this regard. We welcome this news!!*)

*REMINDER* One Big Beautiful Bill  -ITC (solar tax credit) Phase-Out Clock Is Ticking –   Commercial solar projects coming online after 2027 won’t qualify for IRA tax credits. New projects must begin construction before July 4, 2026 to remain eligible.

You’ve got questions -we’ve got answers.  Call the state-certified solar practitioners here at NATiVE at 855.234.3131 to discuss your commercial or residential project.