© Meredith Kohut, authorThe city of Houston has introduced a new program that allows residents to install solar panels on their rooftops at a discounted rate.
Texas Solar Switch Houston's group buying campaign combines the purchasing power of all registered homeowners to negotiate price reductions for each participant. Program staff will conduct a competitive bidding process in December to best select the installer.
The city will implement the project in partnership with Solar United Neighbors, a Washington, D.C.-based national nonprofit solar advocacy organization, and iChoosr, a crowdsourcing company.
"As energy costs continue to rise, homeowners and small businesses are looking to save on their energy bills and increase their resilience to climate-related events," Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement. "Texas Solar Switch Houston offers our community an easy and convenient way to learn more about solar and get a competitive quote from a trusted and experienced solar installation company."
Because Texas has so much sunlight, the average participant can expect to save about $20,000 in net savings over the lifetime of the solar system, according to the program's website. Some energy companies offer "solar buyback plans" where consumers buy back excess electricity generated by their solar panels, further increasing their savings.
What's more, people who use solar energy in their homes typically see their property values increase by about 4 percent, according to a study by marketer Zillow.
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Hannah Mitchell, Solar United Neighbors' Texas program director, said the new project is especially timely as Congress passed the Inflation Relief Act in August. Solar Energy Act 2010 It provides a 30 percent tax credit for installation costs for people who switch to solar power before the end of 2032. Credit will decrease to 26 percent in 2033 and 22 percent in 2034.
"More and more Houstonians are turning to solar and battery storage for self-sufficiency, which has the added benefit of making our grid more resilient," Mitchell said. "With the recent shift to IRAs, now is an especially good time to go solar."
Interested Houston residents can register online for free with no obligation to purchase. Then, until January 11, they will receive an individual price based on the type and condition of the roof, and they will decide until February 21 to proceed with the installation.
More : Solar is poised to double its presence in Texas and go global, the report says.
yilun.cheng@chron.com
