On April 16, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 819 by a 22-9 vote, creating new solar and wind energy development restrictions.
The bill introduces permitting requirements for projects over 10 MW, mandates environmental reviews, enforces setbacks from property lines and homes, and prohibits property tax abatements for large renewable projects.
These regulations do not apply to other forms of energy.
Supporters claim the bill is intended to protect land and wildlife, while opponents argue it unfairly targets clean energy and threatens Texas’ energy security, rural economies, and private property rights.
Texas leads the USA in solar and wind capacity, with renewables representing 93% of new generation added since 2021. Solar alone has become the largest source of new capacity on the Texas grid.
“This bill will kill renewable energy in Texas,” warned Jeff Clark, CEO of Texas Power Alliance.
Industry groups warn that SB 819 will slow renewable development, raise electricity bills, and risk grid reliability at a time when energy demand is surging.
Daniel Giese, Texas Director of State Affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), said after the vote: “With energy demand rising fast, Texas needs every megawatt it can generate to keep the lights on and our economy strong.
“We cannot afford to turn away from the pro-energy and pro-business policies that made the Lone Star State the energy capital, but that’s exactly what SB 819 does.”
Luke Metzger, Executive Director of Environment Texas, added, “This bill threatens to increase pollution, blackouts and electric bills.
“Under the guise of land and wildlife protection, it would create a discriminatory permitting standard and grind renewable energy development to a halt, harming, not helping, our land and wildlife.”
The legislation now heads to the Texas House of Representatives for consideration. If enacted, critics say it will weaken grid resilience, undermine private property rights, and stall billions in rural economic investment.
The news comes as President Trump’s administration continues political and legislative movements that impact the solar and wider renewable industries.
