Federal cuts to renewable incentives come as new research finds that rooftop solar could offer the biggest savings for homeowners in east and northeast Houston, where people spend more of their income on energy bills.
State of play: Neighborhoods like Pleasantville, Denver Harbor and Kashmere Gardens face some of the city's highest energy burdens, per a recent analysis by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan research organization.
By the numbers: Roughly 40% of homes in high-potential areas are already "solar-ready," meaning the roof is structurally sound and expected to last at least as long as the solar panels.
Urban Institute estimates over 47,000 Houston homeowners across these neighborhoods could benefit from rooftop solar.
Thousands more could qualify with basic roof repairs, which would make the homes suitable for installation.
The bottom line: Houston has strong solar potential in communities that could use utility bill relief most — but aging roofs, upfront costs and limited support still block many families from accessing it.
Go deeper: Check out Urban Institute's map of where there's solar opportunity in Houston.
