Many kinds of endangered animals and migratory songbirds live in or travel through Texas. Raptors like bald eagles and black hawks, which are also classified as threatened, have federal protection, as so many other birds. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, the...
Do you have to sell land to benefit from solar energy production?
Texas is a state rich in opportunities for energy production, including both traditional petroleum-based energy and renewable energy like wind and solar. Thousands of homeowners across the state sign leases for oil and gas companies to put wells out on their property....
Can you turn solar power into a source of household income?
Texas has the potential to truly become an energy powerhouse. Obviously, the state has a significant amount of oil and gas reserves, and many property owners sign leases with companies granting them mineral rights to the property. However, with active wind patterns...
It’s a hot one. Can solar and wind power keep up?
Enjoying the hot spell? If you’re on the Texas grid, you’re probably wondering whether supply will continue to meet demand in this record heat. The good news is that power companies continue to make investments in energy development here in Texas and New Mexico. A lot...
New solar panels can thermoelectrically collect energy at night
Engineers at Stanford University have invented a new type of solar cell that collects energy at night. The device works by incorporating a thermoelectric generator. That tiny generator is able to create electricity from the temperature difference between the solar...
Will silicon shortage disrupt plans for solar energy installation?
If you follow the news on the solar industry, or if you have leased a part of your land for a solar energy installation, you may be aware that there is a shortage of silicon, a mineral needed to produce solar modules. That shortage just became more urgent when the...
Energy Department wants to increase solar power from 4% to 45%
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced a goal of expanding solar energy from 4% of our nation’s electricity to 45% by 2050. It’s an ambitious goal aimed at fighting climate change. The 45% goal is in line with what most climate scientists state is necessary....
What rights would a solar energy company get over my land?
It’s happening all over West Texas. Solar energy companies are trying to increase their capacity, and the easiest way to do that is to build utility-grade solar arrays. That means they need land, and they’re offering Texas landowners premium prices to lease it. Have...
Texas beating California, other states in 2021 solar installations
If an energy company has approached you to lease part of your land for a solar energy array, you could be part of a vast trend. According to the solar industry, the United States now boasts over 100 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity. That includes a bit more...
US solar industry: Solar installations will quadruple by 2030
If you own land in Texas, you should know that the solar industry is actively seeking locations for solar arrays. It’s a fact that could be potentially lucrative for you if you are interested in hosting a site. Indeed, the industry itself says that it plans to...
