Politically speaking, Texas occupies an unusual position in the US energy transition. The statehouse is dominated by Republican officials who are determined to follow the White House lead on energy policy. However, the state’s deeply rooted freestyle economic policy keeps getting in the way.

In recent years some Republican lawmakers have tried to place new hurdles in the way of solar power plants and wind farms, but those efforts have largely failed. As a result, Texas still carries the title of #1 wind power among all 50 states. The state is also vying with California and Florida for the #1 spot in solar power.

In the latest development, the North America branch of the global energy firm Enel has just announced the official start of operations at its GulfStar solar power plant with energy storage. Located in Wharton County, Texas, the 556-megawatt (dc) facility is Enel’s largest power plant to date in the US, and the biggest of its facilities to make room for sheep grazing, too.