The Solutions Project, founded by Marco Krapels, Mark Jacobson, and Mark Ruffalo, has launched a new website showcasing community-led climate resilience projects across the US, from California to the Northern Mariana Islands. Initiatives like the Solar Generator Loaner Program in the Northern Mariana Islands and the resilience hubs in California are rooted in principles of trust, mutual aid, and Just Recovery, focusing on community-led solutions to climate challenges. In Texas, the Harris County Climate Justice Plan prioritizes prevention over disaster response, investing in mitigation to save the county $6 for every $1 spent. These efforts highlight the importance of community input and collaboration with grassroots organizations to promote 100% renewable energy and create a sustainable, safe, and equitable future for all.
Tag: Texas
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Tesla files tax incentive application for $10.1 billion Texas solar cell plant
Tesla is seeking a ten-year property tax limitation in Texas to support the construction of a $10.1 billion solar cell manufacturing facility named Project Crystal Sun near Richmond in Fort Bend County. The facility aims to create over 9,700 permanent full-time jobs and over 1,100 peak construction jobs, contributing to the local economy. By being fully vertically integrated, the plant will bring cell and wafer fabrication directly onto domestic soil, supporting Tesla's goal of achieving 100 GW of annual domestic solar manufacturing capacity. This significant investment represents a major step towards advancing sustainable energy solutions and reducing carbon emissions.
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$10 Billion Tesla Solar Factory in Texas? And $20–25 Billion TERAFAB Project in Midst of AI Bubble?
Tesla is planning to build a giant solar cell factory in Texas called "Project Crystal Sun" with a $10.1 billion investment, creating thousands of jobs. Additionally, the TERAFAB project aims to address the shortage of computer equipment, producing over one terawatt of AI compute annually. Elon Musk sees this as a step towards becoming a galactic civilization, pushing for the construction of the chip factory to meet the demand for chips needed for Tesla's humanoid robots and AI data centers. However, there are concerns about the financial sustainability and readiness of the product, with comparisons made to Tesla's previous gigafactory venture. The article questions if Musk's ambitious projects, including TERAFAB, could potentially be his downfall, drawing parallels to the story of Icarus.
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Solar and storage account for 91% of new U.S. grid capacity in Q1
In the first half of 2026, the U.S. solar and energy storage sectors reached significant milestones, with solar and energy storage accounting for 91% of new electricity generation capacity added to the grid in the first quarter. Solar generation surpassed coal generation in May 2026, meeting 13% of total American electricity needs. California and Texas experienced record-breaking performance in battery storage and solar generation, with Texas emerging as the fastest-growing utility-scale solar market in the country. Regional transmission organizations nationwide set new solar generation records, underscoring the crucial role of renewable assets in ensuring grid reliability.
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6 Records Solar & Storage Have Crushed in the First Half of 2026
Solar and storage technologies are dominating new electricity generation capacity in the US, with solar making up 91% of new grid capacity added in Q1 2026 and surpassing coal as America's largest source of new electricity generation. California's battery fleet discharged a record 12.99 GW of power, covering 44% of demand, while setting a solar generation record of 23 GW covering 72% of afternoon demand. Texas has set multiple records, including renewables meeting 79% of electricity demand and batteries supplying 20% of evening electricity demand. Major grid operators like SPP, ISONE, MISO, and PJM are also setting new records for solar generation, showcasing how solar energy is not only reducing prices but also ensuring energy reliability and meeting rising electricity demand.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/16/6-records-solar-storage-have-crushed-in-the-first-half-of-2026/
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Battery Swapping Is Finally Coming To The US
Battery swapping has gained popularity in global e-mobility regions, with the US showing signs of acceleration. In New York City, a successful pilot project for public battery swapping stations for e-bike delivery workers is expanding to install 25 stations in high-traffic locations. The Transportation Committee of CB 8 approved two EV charging station locations in Manhattan to avoid infrastructure issues. Honda's new swappable battery pack for two-wheelers in the US and Europe's "Swaptopus" initiative for electric trucks aim to advance electric mobility. These swapping stations also function as virtual power plants, with Texas and New York City making efforts to implement e-bike battery swapping for safety and efficiency benefits.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/05/battery-swapping-us-e-bikes-honda-nyc/
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3 home energy providers offer 16.8 GW of distributed capacity to utilities, hyperscalers
Sunrun, Tesla, and Renew Home are partnering to provide nearly 17 GW of distributed energy capacity in the U.S., focusing on alleviating grid congestion and offering grid services to middle-class American families. Power system experts see untapped potential in distributed resources like battery and HVAC capacity in key markets such as Texas, California, and Virginia. In Puerto Rico, LUMA Energy has utilized Sunrun's PowerOn Puerto Rico VPP to address reliability issues on the transmission grid, with onsite solar and batteries playing a critical role in shortening power outages for over 200,000 customers. The need for sustainable solutions is evident as load-shedding events increase due to high demand and aging fossil-fuel generators going offline for maintenance.
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Historic Graph: Solar Electricity Surpasses Coal Electricity In USA
In May 2026, solar power in the US surpassed coal power in electricity generation for the first time ever, with solar providing 12.8% of the total compared to coal's 12.2%. This marks a significant milestone in the transition towards renewable energy sources, with coal generation declining by 11% year over year. Solar power has been steadily rising and setting new records, becoming the third-largest source of electricity in the US behind gas and nuclear. The shift towards renewable energy sources is evident in the significant growth of solar power over the past five years, highlighting the progress towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy system. Solar power is becoming increasingly popular in the US, with markets from Texas to California investing in solar to meet growing power needs, and in ERCOT, electricity generation from solar is projected to exceed coal for the first time in 2026. This shift towards solar energy is a significant development in the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
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Texas Scores Another Solar Factory, Trump Or No Trump
TOYO Solar, a Japanese firm, is investing $357 million in a 1.5-gigawatt solar cell manufacturing facility in Texas to produce HJT solar cells, known for enhanced performance in hot climates. This move represents a significant step towards cleaner and more efficient solar energy production in the US. The company aims to meet domestic content requirements and strengthen the supply chain security of the US solar industry, which is thriving and outpacing fossil energy systems for new power generation capacity additions. By focusing on tandem solar cells that combine silicon and perovskites for durability and efficiency, TOYO is driving advancements in solar conversion efficiency and creating 400 direct jobs in the city.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/09/solar-cells-new-factory-texas-us-hjt-toyo/
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Waymo Sending Used EV Batteries to Community Clean Energy
Waymo and B2U Storage Solutions have partnered to repurpose old EV batteries for grid-scale storage systems, aiming to cut CO2 emissions and pollution while supporting clean energy growth in California and Texas. By extending the use of these batteries, they are maximizing their economic and environmental value, showcasing the potential for EV batteries to contribute to a circular economy and help meet increasing energy demand. This initiative highlights Waymo's commitment to sustainability and maximizing the positive environmental impact of its all-electric fleet, demonstrating the potential for repurposed EV batteries to play a key role in climate solutions.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/07/waymo-sending-used-ev-batteries-to-community-clean-energy/