Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

As a native Texan, summer brings to mind many activities, like swimming, outdoor concerts and family barbecues.

It also makes me think of the hot summer sun. But this year, as millions of Texans are cranking up the AC to stave off heat, I can rest a little easier knowing that our state’s electricity is increasingly being powered by cleaner, less polluting resources.

That’s because market forces are leading to coal’s rapid decline, resulting in a cleaner electric grid in the Lone Star State. According to a new analysis from the Brattle Group and the Texas Clean Energy Coalition, natural gas and renewable energy — such as that from wind turbines and solar panels — are on the rise in Texas.

For example, the study forecasts what Texas’ primary electric grid will look like in 20 years. Coal will only provide 6 percent of total electricity, down from 45 percent in 2002. Taking its place will be more low-carbon natural gas, wind and solar, representing a huge gain for clean air.

Even better, this change is occurring without increasing our electric bills.

The study shows that prices will remain approximately equal to 2014 levels, with adjustments for inflation.

How can our energy system get sufficiently cleaner without becoming more expensive? To start, Texas has a competitive electricity market that ensures lowest-cost resources are placed on the grid first, so we’ll get the most affordable energy available.

That has increasingly been natural gas, as prices have plummeted over the past decade.

But renewable energy is also becoming more and more competitive. Solar panel prices have fallen 80 percent in just five years, and Texas wind energy has gotten so cheap and plentiful, utilities sometimes have to give it away. There’s also energy efficiency, which many sources agree is our most cost-effective energy resource. The cheapest electricity is the kind you don’t have to produce in the first place.

Meanwhile, the cost of maintaining outdated, aging coal plants just keeps going up — not to mention the huge cost they impose on our health every day. Plus, since Texas imports coal from other states, this transition will increase the use of homegrown energy — and the jobs needed to produce it.

Clean energy will also save Texas water. Some resources — like coal and nuclear — require a huge amount of water to clean, cool and distribute power. But solar panels, wind and energy efficiency require virtually no water to create energy. Every year, Texas allocates a lot of water to the electricity sector. With the transition to a clean-energy economy, that water can go toward our homes, businesses and agriculture.

So that’s the good news: The market is moving us to a cleaner electricity system, protecting Texans’ health and water, without impacting our wallets. The excellent news? This transition aligns with what Texans want — on both sides of the aisle. In fact, a recent poll found that 85 percent of the state’s voters — including 78 percent of Republicans — want to increase the use of clean energy to generate electricity in Texas.

For the city of San Antonio, the energy evolution is especially welcome. In the past, the city has narrowly avoided violating ozone air-quality standards, or protective measures to limit smog. But earlier this year, San Antonio exceeded the maximum allowable ozone level, meaning it will soon have to make changes to its approach to air quality. Fortunately, CPS Energy continues to make great strides in advancing clean energy resources such as solar power and energy efficiency. The projected declines in coal use and carbon pollution — already underway in San Antonio and across the state — will help the Alamo City make significant progress toward meeting clean air standards.

As Texas’ energy system gets cleaner, we can keep cool in the summer without breaking the bank. When we want to play outside, our air will be less polluted by coal and we’ll have water to swim in. That’s a win for Texans this summer and for generations to come.

John Hall is the Environmental Defense Fund’s Texas director for clean energy.