Austin’s $14 Million Solar Gamble: Will Public Rooftops Power 2,000 Homes?

While most cities talk a big game about fighting climate change, Austin is actually putting its money where its mouth is—sort of. The city council unanimously passed a resolution on May 22, 2025, to review potential solar installation sites across municipal properties. Translation: they’re finally waking up to the giant ball of free energy hanging in the sky 300 days a year.

The numbers are pretty wild. Austin currently has 29 solar systems on city properties that generated 670,800 kilowatt-hours last year, saving about $66,500. Not bad. But here’s where it gets interesting—the city could add another 14 megawatts of capacity just by slapping panels on existing buildings. That’s enough to power roughly 2,000 homes. The Texas Climate Jobs Project estimates this could save between $2.2 million and $4.3 million in annual utility costs.

Austin could add 14 megawatts of solar capacity, enough to power 2,000 homes

Public Citizen went full nerd mode with this analysis. They used ArcGIS mapping tools and LIDAR data to create digital surface models of city buildings. They calculated solar radiation levels, accounted for HVAC systems hogging 25% of roof space, and identified millions of square feet ready for panels. Libraries, police stations, water treatment plants—everything’s fair game. The resolution specifically targets rooftops, parking lots, and underused land for these new solar installations.

The timing couldn’t be better. Or worse, depending on how you look at it. Solar’s now one of the cheapest power options available, and with climate change breathing down our necks, local clean energy isn’t just smart—it’s survival. This shift aligns with global trends where solar PV is expected to account for half of the increase in electricity demand through 2027. Austin Energy, the city’s municipally owned utility, wants 200 megawatts of local solar by 2025. They’re at about 60 megawatts now. Tick tock.

San Antonio’s already doing this. They’ve got solar on city facilities while Austin’s been dragging its feet. But things are moving. Seventeen projects totaling nearly 8 megawatts have been approved, feeding into Austin Energy’s community solar program. That program’s essential since 55% of Austin Energy customers live under roofs that suck for solar.

The real kicker? Small and midsize rooftops collectively offer more capacity than big buildings because there are so damn many of them. Austin’s sitting on a goldmine of untapped solar potential. Whether they’ll actually tap it remains to be seen.