The Houston Chronicle was one of the first news platforms to report on the devastating power outages last winter. According to the Chronicle, the state of Texas lost over one-third of its power capacity in just one day.
Wind and coal energy were among the first to go, but luckily, solar energy in the state stayed consistent. Houston stood paralyzed in a state of shock and uncertainty.
You may have seen an increase in your electricity bill over the last few months, and we’re here to shine a light on why that happened.
Houston energy prices are dependant on several different factors, so let’s discuss a few things you probably don’t know about your energy consumption.
1. Which Types of Energy are Popular?
Here in Houston, 92% of our power comes from wind and solar energy. This article boasts Houston as being the #1 city most sustained by renewable energy!
Wind power is used on a more commercial level, while solar power is readily available on a more personal level. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is there a solar provider near me?” The answer is yes!
Blue Raven Solar is part of the effort to supply solar power to over 1.7 million homes in and around Houston.
2. How Expensive is Solar Energy?
A lot of people hesitate before choosing solar panels because of the initial cost of installation. If you’ve fallen for this short-term way of thinking, you’re missing out on saving thousands with this long-term investment.
The cost of installing solar panels has dropped by over 60% over the last few years, making it well worth the while. The cost of electricity is sharply increasing, though. This means that in as little as five years, you will have saved every penny you spent on installation with solar power.
3. How Expensive is Wind Energy?
Like we said earlier, Texas businesses are sustained in large part from wind energy. However, it’s a bit more expensive for residents. Forbes reported that wind power costs up to $54 per megawatt-hour.
Contrast this from the max of $42 per megawatt-hour for solar power, and you can see a clear power source taking precedence.
4. Solar Energy Tax Credit
Not only can solar power pay for itself in a few years, but the federal government introduced a tax credit to incentivize American’s to go green.
That’s right, with this Congressional bill, you can earn a 26% tax credit on the cost of solar installation.
5. Solar Energy and the Environment
It should be the goal of every US citizen to decrease their carbon footprint in light of the ongoing climate crisis. Switching to solar energy is a great way to do this!
We can’t talk about the cost of solar energy without noting that not using renewable energy comes at a higher price. Solar power helps to reduce our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and drop the rate of pollution dramatically.
Choosing Solar for Houston Energy
We hope that it has become clear that solar power is one of your cheapest options for Houston energy. Any monetary costs of going solar fall when you factor in tax credits and the money you save by switching from electricity.
For more information about energy here in Houston or life hacks like lowering your energy bills, check out the other articles on our site!
