The potential for a Texas solar industry took a huge blow as procedural motions killed the solar bill that was discussed in a prior post. It is incomprehensible how the legislature let this bill die. It was supported by environmentalists and some rural Republicans. The Wall Street Journal Environmental Capital blog discussed this unfortunate development. This result could put the solar business behind two years, as the Texas legislature only meets for a few months every two years. The solar industry could take off just as the wind energy business in Texas has grown to the largest in the United States.
The major problem at the end of the Texas legislative session was over voter identification, which is not a critical issue at this time. However, the political wrangling between Republicans and Democrats over this issue led to the failure to pass not only the solar bill, but funding for highways and various other important legislation. If is unfortunate that this issue could not have been set aside to allow the other bills to be voted out of the Legislature.
As a citizen of the State of Texas, the last legislative session is disappointing Hopefully, in the future important legislation will not be held up over issues that are largely political in nature. We need to find way of addressing important economic and energy issues and move beyond politics.
