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Rice's new program helps managers navigate the complexities of energy transition

Photo courtesy of Rice University

As the planet's temperature continues to rise and extreme weather becomes the new norm, companies are under pressure to make the transition to renewable energy.

But where to start? Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business is offering a new comprehensive program that delves into the multifaceted challenges posed by the shift toward sustainable energy.

"When it comes to the ever-evolving energy sector most people are paying attention to the tech, but businesses are faced with new organizational challenges," says Professor Yan Anthea Zhang, who will be leading the two-day program March 17-18, 2025. "Senior leaders and managers are constantly being presented with uncertainties about how to move their businesses forward, but if you wait too long, the opportunity disappears."

Energy Transition for Business Leaders participants will engage in interactive workshops, analyze case studies, and network with peers to enhance their understanding of necessary changes in organizational structure, processes, and culture. Key takeaways will include:

  • A comprehensive understanding of stakeholder demands and how to address them
  • Strategies for identifying and implementing necessary strategic changes for energy transition
  • Insights into managing organizational challenges, from resource allocation to cultural shifts
  • Tools for aligning employee incentives with the firm's strategic goals in energy transition

Wondering if you or your employees qualify? Here's who the program is designed for:

  • Senior executives and leaders involved in strategic planning and implementation
  • Sustainability officers seeking to align their organizations with future energy demands
  • HR professionals and talent managers looking to develop a workforce capable of navigating energy transition

Prof. Zhang has has explored these themes and ideas multiple times through the Jones School's MBA program, but not everyone has the time commitment for a two-year degree — or they already have one.

"Nobody has a crystal ball," says Prof. Zhang. "You need to understand your stakeholders' needs, examine your current resources and capabilities, and then make short and long-term plans to move in the direction that's best for your company. That's what participants will learn during this program."

Registration is now open for the spring dates. See more of the program's schedule and fill out an interest form on the program's website here.

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A View From HETI

A new joint venture will work on four projects supplying 5 gigawatts of power from combined-cycle power plants for the ERCOT and PJM Interconnection grids. Photo via Getty Images.

Houston-based power provider NRG Energy Inc. has formed a joint venture with two other companies to meet escalating demand for electricity to fuel the rise of data centers and the evolution of generative AI.

NRG’s partners in the joint venture are GE Vernova, a provider of renewable energy equipment and services, and TIC – The Industrial Co., a subsidiary of construction and engineering company Kiewit.

“The growing demand for electricity in part due to GenAI and the buildup of data centers means we need to form new, innovative partnerships to quickly increase America’s dispatchable generation,” Robert Gaudette, head of NRG Business and Wholesale Operations, said in a news release. “Working together, these three industry leaders are committed to executing with speed and excellence to meet our customers’ generation needs.”

Initially, the joint venture will work on four projects supplying 5 gigawatts of power from combined-cycle power plants, which uses a combination of natural gas and steam turbines that produce additional electricity from natural gas waste. Electricity from these projects will be produced for power grids operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and PJM Interconnection. The projects are scheduled to come online from 2029 through 2032.

The joint venture says the model it’s developing for these four projects is “replicable and scalable,” with the potential for expansion across the U.S.

The company is also developing a new 721-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle unit at its Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas. Read more here.

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