Texas has a large population of nearly 30 million people who use more power per capita than any other US state.

The state is becoming increasingly involved in a development of a large local solar energy industry for its energy needs and its ability to create new jobs.

According to David Power, the deputy director of Public Citizen Texas, there are more renewable energy bills promoting solar energy than ever before.

Power says, "There are senators and representatives that are talking about solar that have never mentioned the word probably in their lives. We’ve actually heard the term ‘global warming,’ and two years ago that was called ‘the G word’ — you didn’t talk about it."

Mark Strama, a leading promoter of renewable energy said, "It just seems like everybody recognizes our leadership in wind, and that government policy got us where we are today in wind. With solar, we need to catch up."

Some businesses, concerned about higher energy prices, urge caution.

The Texan capital city - Austin - is also aggressively pursuing solar energy and plans to build the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the country so that the local utility company, Austin Energy, can buy the electricity produced.

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