Harris County, TX — Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia has issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of a nearly $250 million grant award to Harris County (and partner applicants):
“In the history of Harris County, there are a handful of pivotal moments that can be pointed to as game-changers. This Solar for All grant will rival the creation of the Harris County Flood Control District and the construction of the Astrodome as innovations that altered the course of this county’s history for generations. I am grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for including Solar for All in the Inflation Reduction Act. Solar for All will help Harris County remain our nation’s energy capital, will create thousands of good-paying jobs, and will make us more resilient for the long haul. Given the State of Texas’ shaky and unreliable grid, it cannot be overstated how huge Solar for All will be for Harris County’s future. Additionally, I am proud of my team for the work we began in 2019 that helped to set the foundation for this exciting announcement.”
Background:
Harris County was the lead applicant of a consortium of 22 Texas cities, counties and non-profits to apply for the $249,700,000 Solar for All grant that was just awarded by the EPA. In total, the EPA has announced $7 Billion in Solar for All grants to around 60 applicants coming from states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits. It was included as part of the Inflation Reduction Act as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. Solar for All aims to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities to access affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy. It will help create well-paid union jobs and make power bills for working families more affordable.
Despite assurances from executives and state officials about the reliability of Texas’ power grid, millions of residents across Harris County and the state of Texas are frequently forced to endure anxiety and uncertainty from ERCOT due to the fragility of the state’s grid. Most recently, ERCOT warned of potential failures during warmer-than-expected weather in April - long before the peak heat of Summer. Making matters worse, the lack of reliability has driven up utility bills for Harris County residents Last year, ERCOT had the most expensive electricity market in America.
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