it’s unfortunate many local utilities in Texas actually punish for solar. It’s a good thing off grid solar and battery storage is really coming down in price.

Solar panels are pretty hard on the environment and (in places with poor regulation) the people manufacturing them but once you've got them set up they're pretty fantastic (provided you don't accidentally smash them like I did my first system.) You have truly independent energy this way. Also there are consumer products like the jackery that make moving power easy for normal people so It's not hard to share with your neighbors when they need some extra too.