Austin Energy and the Texas Land Office teamed up to test solar energy panels and fund public schools.

The city-owned utility leased over 400 acres of West Texas land from the Permanent School Fund.

The historic lease of State land by Austin Energy allows for cutting-edge research, and helps fund public schools.

"Literally, the schools get revenue from the electricity generation that we will be producing on State land," Mayor Will Wynn said. "Meanwhile, we continue to grow the solar industry here in Texas."

The Texas Land Office continues to develop solar energy and wind power as part of its sustainable energy program.

The program paves the way for harnessing solar energy for use at the utility-scale level.