Solar News

New co-op forms to help Dallas residents find deals on solar energy

If the solar panels are installed by this guy, then yes, totally onboard with solar energy.

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A new co-op focused on solar energy is launching in Dallas. The Dallas County Solar Co-op is a group for residents and business owners who have interest in solar energy to learn about and get an affordable deal on installing solar panels.

It's being launched by Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit, in partnership with 350 Dallas and Green Careers Dallas.

Solar United Neighbors has a mission to create a new energy system in the United States with rooftop solar as the cornerstone. The group educates residents about the benefits of solar energy; helps organize group solar installations; and strengthens the state's solar policies and its community of solar supporters.

They host events and education programs to help people become informed about solar and advocate for fair solar policies.

Hanna Mitchell, program director for Solar United Neighbors of Texas, says in a release that their goal is to make solar power more readily available to all.

"The Dallas solar co-op will enable more homeowners and business owners to join the growing community of Texans saving money by harnessing solar power," Mitchell says. "We're building a movement to transform our electricity system into one that is cleaner, fairer, and shares its benefits more broadly."

All homeowners who reside in Dallas County are eligible to participate in the co-op, and it's free to join. Members are not required to purchase panels. Once the group is large enough, Solar United Neighbors will help the co-op solicit competitive bids from area solar installers.

So if you are considering going solar, the co-op helps get a better deal because there's a large group, says Molly Rooke, leader of 350 Dallas, an all-volunteer group working to inspire Dallasites to take on the challenge of climate change.

"Texas is a great state for solar and we're excited to help make this renewable resource more accessible to people through the group-buy model," Rooke says in a statement.

Co-op members will select a single company to complete all of the installations. They can then purchase panels individually based on the installer's group rate.

By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, members not only save on the cost, they also have the support of fellow group members and solar experts at Solar United Neighbors.

The group is hosting information meetings in January as follows:

January 7, 2020, 6:30 pm: Texas New Era Center, 1408 N. Washington Ave., Dallas

January 9, 2020, 6:30 pm: Anita Martinez Recreation Center, 3212 N. Winnetka Ave., Dallas

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Top Texas schools

2 Dallas universities rank among top 10 in Texas for 2024 by U.S. News

SMU Facebook

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Two Dallas universities have achieved high rankings for their high-quality educational experiences this year: Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Dallas both have earned top-10 spots on U.S. News and World Report's just-released list of the Best Colleges in Texas for 2024.

SMU claimed the No. 4 spot in Texas, and ranked No. 89 nationally. The private institution had an undergraduate enrollment of more than 7,000 students in fall 2022. The school, which costs $64,460 in tuition and fees each year, ranks No. 121 for "Best Value Schools" by U.S. News.

In April, SMU's Cox School of Business ranked No. 4 in U.S. News' ranking of the best graduate programs in Texas. SMU business graduates additionally make the third-highest earnings in the nation within the four years after their graduation.

SMU actually fared one spot better in U.S. News' list of top Texas schools than it did in another recent report, in which it ranked No. 5 statewide.

U.S. News' profile of SMU says the university finds pride in its rich campus culture that encourages students to participate in different organizations and activities.

"Students can check out the Dallas International Film Festival, which draws 40,000 viewers annually, or explore the more than 400 parks in the city," the site says. "About 2,000 students are involved in SMU Greek life, and all students can participate in annual events such as the Festival of Lights, a candlelit assembly on the school’s Main Quad each December, and the Mane Event, a celebration of spring complete with bands and food."

SMU's cross-Metroplex rival, Texas Christian University, ranked No. 6 in Texas and No. 98 nationally.

Just behind TCU, Richardson's UTD placed No. 7 in the Texas rankings, and No. 115 nationally. With a total undergraduate enrollment of over 21,600 students in fall 2022, the university values itself as a top-tier research institution.

"The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship utilizes world-class, academic education, industry-leading experiential training, venture mentorship and advisory support to support the launch of new businesses," the UT Dallas website says.

In fact, the U.S. Department of Defense recently announced it will work alongside UT Dallas to develop a $30 million energy storage systems campus in a new initiative to improve battery technology.

"The project will accelerate transition and scaling of next generation batteries, while reducing dependence on scarce critical materials," the release said.

UTD ranked No. 14 in the recent Niche list of best Texas colleges.

U.S. News' top 10 best colleges in Texas in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Rice University, Houston
No. 2 – University of Texas at Austin
No. 3 – Texas A&M University, College Station
No. 4 – Southern Methodist University, Dallas
No. 5 – Baylor University, Waco
No. 6 – Texas Christian University, Fort Worth
No. 7 – The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
No. 8 – University of Houston
No. 9 – Texas Tech University, Lubbock
No. 10 – University of St. Thomas, Houston

The full rankings can be found on usnews.com.

US News & World Report reports universities rankings colleges dallas SMU Southern Methodist University ut dallas richardson