Editor's note: Dive headfirst into the new week with three quick things to catch up on in Houston's energy transition.
Events not to miss
Put these Houston-area energy-related events on your calendar.
- The 5th Texas Energy Forum 2024, organized by U.S. Energy Stream, will take place on August 21 and 22 at the Petroleum Club of Houston. Register now.
- Hart Energy's New Energies Summit is taking place on August 27 to 28 at the Hilton Americas - Houston. Register now.
- The inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week will take place September 9 to 13. Learn more.
- Gastech will be hosted in Houston this year. The event is September 17 to 20 at the George R Brown Convention Center. Register now.
Expert opinion: Texas has a major opportunity for EVs
Despite its high energy production, Texas has had more outages than any other state over the past five years due to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and rapidly growing demand. Photo via Getty Images
Texas stands out among other states when it comes to energy production.
Even after mass rolling blackouts during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the Lone Star State produced more electricity than any other state in 2022. However, it also exemplifies how challenging it can be to ensure grid reliability. The following summer, the state’s grid manager, the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), experienced ten occasions of record-breaking demand.
Despite its high energy production, Texas has had more outages than any other state over the past five years due to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and rapidly growing demand, as the outages caused by Hurricane Beryl demonstrated.
Fresh funding: Houston Health Department scores $20M grant funding for climate, energy resilience
Two Houston communities have received funding for programming and workforce development within climate resilience. Photo via Getty Images
The city of Houston has secured a $20 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to be used to build climate and energy resilience in two local underserved communities.
The Houston Health Department's funding comes from the EPA's Community Change program and will benefit the Greater Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens, regions that have faced contamination from the neighboring Union Pacific Railroad site. This grant follows two prior EPA grants from the Vulnerable to Vibrant series that were awarded in 2023.
"Through this grant, we will also aim to enhance a state-of-the-art flood alert system that provides advance warning," Loren Hopkins, HHD's chief environmental science officer, says in a news release. "We will promote and provide education regarding an air permit application warning system, plant fruit trees for flood, heat, and pollution mitigation, develop a hyper-local neighborhood resilience plan, and establish a Houston Environmental Justice Advisory Committee." Continue reading.