As the submissions deadline for Environment Texas’ solar video contest has passed, please help us choose the winner. You can check out the videos and vote for your favorite! Here’s a review of each video to give you a glimpse of what was submitted.

Tell Me Why

This thought-provoking video was submitted by the students of Liberty-Eylau High School and produced by Matt Fry and Scott Hanes. The video, set against the backdrop of the natural beauty of the Texas landscape, questions why Texas does not utilize the full potential of the natural clean sources of energy available. The many students made a plea for a cleaner and brighter future and urged our state to take baby steps in taking advantage of the solar energy potential we have here. And truly, this video makes you question: Why do we depend on foreign nations for our energy when 30 square miles provides enough solar energy to power the entire state?

Progress + Solutions = Environment Texas

 What does a rhubarb have to do with solar energy being the solution to environmental problems in Texas? Watch this video by Joel Moss Levinson to find out. Short and sweet, this video gets the message about Texas’ potential for solar energy across in between the random, and often humorous, thoughts thrown about by the video’s one man advocate. Overall, this video is quirky and random, but nevertheless presents a solid suggestion for the environmental issue at hand.

Our Texas

This video is a reflection of the patriotism and pride that comes with being a Texan. It encourages the state to use “the abundance of sunny days” here in Texas to power the state. More than just that, the video is well-researched and informs us that 81% of Texans would be willing to put $12 a year towards long-term solar development and encourages all Texans to urge our legislators to put such a plan into action. After all, Texas prides itself on thinking big and being one step ahead, so isn’t it time that we committed to an innovative plan for alternate energy sources. As this video tells us, it is time.

Big Hot Texas Sun

Did you know that Texas is the number one producer of Carbon emissions in our nation? Or that in one month, a 2 kilowatt solar voltaic system can prevent the burning of 300 lbs of coal, the release of 600 lb of carbon emissions, and the pollution of our air with nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, and mercury? Well, if you didn’t, this video will tell you all about it. A fun, musical number, this video sings (literally) about Texas’ potential in solar energy and how we can use that “Big Hot Texas Sun“ to provide clean energy and cut our dependence on pollution-heavy sources of energy currently in use. Directed by Ric Steinberg, this video is well-informed and thought-provoking.

Going Right to the Source

A neon-colored professor Albert Einstein is lecturing, so you better listen up! The lecture today is about the process by which fossil fuels form and provide energy, but how we can harvest the energy stored in fossil fuels directly from the source itself-the Sun! Easy to understand and accompanied by cute and funny animation and graphics, this video poses the question “Why do we go through all the trouble of acquiring such dilute energy, emitting all sorts of detrimental byproducts in the process, when the source of all of earth’s energy shines above us, ready for the harvest?” Indeed!

Let the Sun Shine In-10% by 2025

This beautifully shot video demands 10% by 2025. Of what, you ask? By 2025, 10% of the energy used in Texas should be provided by solar energy. As this video explains, Texas is the # 1 emitter of carbon emissions, and we must work together to not be that statistic. Solar energy would not only reduce pollution and cut our dependency on fossil fuels, but it would also provide a large number of new jobs. How can we implement prevalent use of solar energy in our state? Watch this video and find out.

A Brighter Texas

“Imagine” is the theme of this video, which urges viewers to imagine if we had a clean energy source for the harvesting right in our backyards then reminds us that we already do: the sun. It also suggests ways incentives for going solar; how does making money without lifting a finger while you are on vacation sound? Pretty great, doesn’t it? Well, it’s possible with solar energy and the implementation of a system of selling excess energy in a free market. Find out more in the video.

SOlar Power

Solar energy goes musical in this upbeat  rap by the talented Mic Sol-O. More than just fun and games though, this rap brings about important points how solar power is “what we ought to use” because it provides jobs, cuts down gas prices, and is a clean and free source of energy. It is indeed a blessing, Mic Sol-O. We agree a hundred percent!

Wildcatting the Sun-Solar Power and You!

Little Jimmy is wildcatting for oil in his backyard like his Grandpa, but alas, there is no more to be found. Luckily for him, he is humorously informed of solar energy and how it can provide electricity in lieu of fossil fuels. Dr. B.J. Stanbury, the founder of HelioVolt, makes an appearance in this video and points out that although solar energy seems expensive to implement, it is an investment because solar power continues to become cheaper while the prices of coal and other fossil fuels are soaring. Shot in an adorable imitation of the classic 1950’s movie era, this video is informative and funny, and urges us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 80% by 2025.        

We Need Solar Power

With beautiful music, this video emphasizes how we Texans need to take advantage of the stimulus bill to increase our use of solar energy. Not only will that be an investment to a cleaner Texas, this video informs us that it will also be beneficial for the economy in stimulating it and creating an avalanche of more jobs. Unfortunately, Texas is starting to fall behind states such as California in utilizing clean energy, and this video urges us to step it up.

Horses With Horns-Solar Power

“Oil and coal will go away, but the sun is here to stay,” who can deny that logic, especially when sang by a cute girl in sunny yellow? A musical number accompanied by guitar and ukelele, this video presents uses for solar energy, such as making trees grow and heating up our showers. Cute and quirky, the video gets its message across. Solar energy is where it’s at, so we should “leave our fossil fuels behind” and make this world “solar-powered.”