New Texas Bill Threatens Growth Of Wind & Solar Industry

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The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 715 (SB 715), a proposal that could impose new costs and operational challenges on wind and solar power producers across the state. The bill is now under consideration in the Texas House of Representatives, where clean energy supporters are urging lawmakers to block it before the legislative session ends on June 2.

What SB 715 Actually Does

SB 715 would require renewable energy facilities, both new and existing, to secure backup power to ensure their contribution to grid reliability. This applies retroactively to solar and wind projects that have been operating for more than one year. Backup power could be provided through contracts with battery storage operators or dispatchable generators like natural gas plants.

Supporters of the bill argue it’s about leveling the playing field and making renewables more accountable for their variability. But critics contend the bill unfairly singles out clean energy and doesn’t impose similar reliability requirements on fossil fuel plants, many of which failed during past extreme weather events in Texas.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) would be tasked with implementing and enforcing these requirements, potentially including penalties for non-compliance or incentives for meeting reliability goals.

Common Confusion: SB 715 vs SB 819

Some reporting has confused SB 715 with SB 819, another bill advancing through the Texas Legislature. SB 819, not SB 715, is the one that includes additional permitting requirements, such as:

• Environmental impact reports
• Fire mitigation plans
• Public notices to local governments
• Strict setback distances for solar and wind installations

While the two bills often get grouped together in policy discussions, they are separate pieces of legislation. SB 715 focuses specifically on backup power and operational mandates.

Concerns From The Clean Energy Sector

The retroactive nature of SB 715 has alarmed many in the renewable energy industry. Requiring existing projects to add backup capacity could prove prohibitively expensive, particularly for older installations that weren’t built with storage in mind.

Though exact figures are uncertain, energy experts warn the bill could force some wind and solar plants to shut down and could discourage future investment. Several environmental groups and energy researchers have emphasized that Texas’s grid reliability has actually improved thanks to the surge in solar generation and battery storage.

As Michael Barnard put so succinctly, “By rewriting the rules of the game after billions of dollars have already been invested, Texas will be dramatically undermining the foundational economic principle of contractual sanctity. Investors who previously viewed Texas as a predictable, stable market now have legitimate reason to reconsider the political risks associated with any long-term investment in the state.”

ERCOT, the state’s grid operator, recently noted that renewables played a key role in maintaining grid stability during last summer’s record heat. ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas has cautioned that imposing new constraints on clean energy resources could make it harder for Texas to meet its fast-growing electricity demand.

Legislative Status

SB 715 passed the Senate on May 8, 2025, and was referred to the House State Affairs Committee on May 12. A companion bill in the House, HB 3356, is also under review and could reach the floor for a vote soon.

With just two weeks remaining in the legislative session, clean energy advocates are ramping up outreach to lawmakers to oppose the measure and urge them to reconsider what many see as a setback for Texas’ leadership in wind and solar power. Whether SB 715 becomes law could have lasting implications for Texas’ renewable energy leadership — and the broader future of clean power in the US.