How the oil capital of the US welcomed a solar power boom
Summary
A Texas farmer named Steve Cargil leases part of his land for a large solar farm, which pays him $200,000 a year and helps support his farm during tough times. Texas has become the largest solar power producer in the US, with solar energy now often supplying about one-third of the state's electricity needs.Key Facts
- Steve Cargil leases 600 acres of his farmland to a solar energy company called OCI Energy.
- The lease pays Cargil $200,000 annually, helping him financially during droughts and rising farming costs.
- Texas recently became the top solar electricity producer in the US, surpassing California.
- In March of last year, Texas generated more electricity from solar than from coal for the first time.
- Solar power in Texas now regularly provides about one-third of the electricity demand during peak hours.
- Texas has a separate power grid, making solar farms cheaper and quicker to connect.
- Texas’s population grew by nearly 16% from 2015 to 2025, increasing electricity demand.
- Solar energy costs about $40 per megawatt hour, much cheaper than new coal power at nearly $90 per megawatt hour.
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