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SolarCity, the California-based solar power installation company that hails itself as the No. 1 provider in the US, has set plans to enter Houston. The company is in 20 states. In Texas, operations are up and running in Dallas and El Paso. SolarCity expects to hire 50 to 100 people in Houston, the Houston Business Journal reports. A location hasn't been announced, but a spokesman for the company said he expects it to be finalized in the next few weeks.
The Houston market will be tough to penetrate. Cloud cover and cheap power are major issues facing SolarCity here. A source of confidence for SolarCity is that Texas residents are adept at shopping for energy, so customers are more receptive to alternatives. We'll see if SolarCity can heat up the solar market. [HBJ]
