Summer outages remain major concern despite CenterPoint upgrades, report shows

power report

A new UH survey shows Harris County residents fear power outages more than flooding or wind when severe weather hits. Photo via Getty Images.

A new survey from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs showed that nearly 70 percent of 2,300 Harris County registered voters polled were very worried or moderately worried about losing power this summer.

The survey asked residents questions about the potential impact of severe summer weather and to evaluate CenterPoint’s efforts to improve the electrical grid over the past year. It was conducted between July 9-18.

Among the three severe weather threats studied—being without power, high winds and flooding—loss of power was the primary concern among respondents. When asked to what extent residents were worried about being without power:

42 percent were very worried
27 percent were moderately worried
19 percent were a little worried
12 percent were not worried at all

Only 25 percent of respondents reported they were very worried about wind damage, and 20 percent were very worried about flooding.

The report also found that 63 percent of respondents held an unfavorable opinion of CenterPoint Energy.

And despite CenterPoint’s $3.2 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP), partnerships with AI companies, and its ongoing Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), 44 percent of respondents said they believe CenterPoint has made only "a little bit" progress on improving the grid's overall reliability.

CenterPoint maintains that the SRP is expected to reduce storm-related outages by 1 billion minutes for its 2.8 million customers by 2029. The company also recently reported a 45 percent reduction in the duration of outages for individual customers from January to June of this year.

“We believe that these resiliency actions will help create a future with fewer outages that impact smaller clusters of customers, coupled with faster restoration times for our Greater Houston communities,” Jason Wells, president and CEO of CenterPoint, previously said in a news release.

Read the full report that includes demographic explanations here.

From Your Site Articles

A team of Texas researchers has landed a nearly $1 million NSF grant to address rural flood management challenges with community input. Photo via Getty Images.

Houston-led project earns $1 million in federal funding for flood research

team work

A team from Rice University, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have been awarded a National Science Foundation grant under the CHIRRP—or Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet—program to combat flooding hazards in rural Texas.

The grant totals just under $1 million, according to a CHIRRP abstract.

The team is led by Avantika Gori, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice. Other members include Rice’s James Doss-Gollin, Andrew Juan at Texas A&M University and Keri Stephens at UT Austin.

Researchers from Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center and Ken Kennedy Institute, Texas A&M’s Institute for A Disaster Resilient Texas and the Technology & Information Policy Institute at UT Austin are part of the team as well.

Their proposal includes work that introduces a “stakeholder-centered framework” to help address rural flood management challenges with community input.

“Our goal is to create a flood management approach that truly serves rural communities — one that’s driven by science but centers around the people who are impacted the most,” Gori said in a news release.

The project plans to introduce a performance-based system dynamics framework that integrates hydroclimate variability, hydrology, machine learning, community knowledge, and feedback to give researchers a better understanding of flood risks in rural areas.

The research will be implemented in two rural Texas areas that struggle with constant challenges associated with flooding. The case studies aim to demonstrate how linking global and regional hydroclimate variability with local hazard dynamics can work toward solutions.

“By integrating understanding of the weather dynamics that cause extreme floods, physics-based models of flooding and AI or machine learning tools together with an understanding of each community’s needs and vulnerabilities, we can better predict how different interventions will reduce a community’s risk,” Doss-Gollin said in a news release.

At the same time, the project aims to help communities gain a better understanding of climate science in their terms. The framework will also consider “resilience indicators,” such as business continuity, transportation access and other features that the team says more adequately address the needs of rural communities.

“This work is about more than flood science — it’s also about identifying ways to help communities understand flooding using words that reflect their values and priorities,” said Stephens. “We’re creating tools that empower communities to not only recover from disasters but to thrive long term.”

OpenSafe.AI, a new platform that utilizes AI, data, and hazard and resilience models to support storm response decision makers, has secured an NSF grant. Photo via Getty Images

Houston-area researchers score $1.5M grant to develop storm response tech platform

fresh funding

Researchers from Rice University have secured a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to continue their work on improving safety and resiliency of coastal communities plagued by flooding and hazardous weather.

The Rice team of engineers and collaborators includes Jamie Padgett, Ben Hu, and Avantika Gori along with David Retchless at Texas A&M University at Galveston. The researchers are working in collaboration with the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center and the Ken Kennedy Institute at Rice and A&M-Galveston’s Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas.

Together, the team is developing and hopes to deploy “Open-Source Situational Awareness Framework for Equitable Multi-Hazard Impact Sensing using Responsible AI,” or OpenSafe.AI, a new platform that utilizes AI, data, and hazard and resilience models "to provide timely, reliable and equitable insights to emergency response organizations and communities before, during and after tropical cyclones and coastal storm events," reads a news release from Rice.

“Our goal with this project is to enable communities to better prepare for and navigate severe weather by providing better estimates of what is actually happening or might happen within the next hours or days,” Padgett, Rice’s Stanley C. Moore Professor in Engineering and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, says in the release. “OpenSafe.AI will take into account multiple hazards such as high-speed winds, storm surge and compound flooding and forecast their potential impact on the built environment such as transportation infrastructure performance or hazardous material spills triggered by severe storms.”

OpenSafe.AI platform will be developed to support decision makers before, during, and after a storm.

“By combining cutting-edge AI with a deep understanding of the needs of emergency responders, we aim to provide accurate, real-time information that will enable better decision-making in the face of disasters,” adds Hu, associate professor of computer science at Rice.

In the long term, OpenSafe.AI hopes to explore how the system can be applied to and scaled in other regions in need of equitable resilience to climate-driven hazards.

“Our goal is not only to develop a powerful tool for emergency response agencies along the coast but to ensure that all communities ⎯ especially the ones most vulnerable to storm-induced damage ⎯ can rely on this technology to better respond to and recover from the devastating effects of coastal storms,” adds Gori, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice.

A Rice University study will consider how "design strategies aimed at improving civic engagement in stormwater infrastructure could help reduce catastrophic flooding." Photo via Getty Images

Houston university to lead new NSF-back flooding study

risk mitigation

Houston will be the setting of a new three-year National Science Foundation-funded study that focuses on a phenomenon the city is quite familiar with: flooding.

Conducted by Rice University, the study will consider how "design strategies aimed at improving civic engagement in stormwater infrastructure could help reduce catastrophic flooding," according to a statement.

The team will begin its research in the Trinity/Houston Gardens neighborhood and will implement field research, participatory design work and hydrological impact analyses.

Rice professor of anthropology Dominic Boyer and Rice's Gus Sessions Wortham Professor of Architecture Albert Pope are co-principal investigators on the study. They'll be joined by Phil Bedient, director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center at Rice, and Jessica Eisma, a civil engineer at the University of Texas at Arlington.

According to Boyer, the study will bring tougher researchers from across disciplines as well as community members and even elementary-aged students.

"Our particular focus will be on green stormwater infrastructure—techniques like bioswale, green roofs and rain gardens—that are more affordable than conventional concrete infrastructure and ones where community members can be more directly involved in the design and implementation phases,” Boyer said. “We envision helping students and other community members design and complete projects like community rain gardens that offer a variety of beneficial amenities and can also mitigate flooding.”

Rice's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, or SSPEED Center, is a leader in flood mitigation research and innovation.

In 2021, the center developed its FIRST radar-based flood assessment, mapping, and early-warning system based on more than 350 maps that simulate different combinations of rainfall over various areas of the watershed. The system was derived from the Rice/Texas Medical Center Flood Alert System (FAS), which Bedient created 20 years ago. Click here to read more.

Ad Placement 300x100

Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Property Showcase

3 energy transition cos. in the running for Houston Startup of the Year

People's Choice

We're just two weeks away from the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards, presented by InnovationMap.com, and while an expert panel of judges will determine the winners in most categories, one award is up to the public.

Voting is now open for 2025 Houston Startup of the Year, the people's choice award. Six exceptional finalists are in the running for the title, including three from the energy transition sector.

From next-gen biobased materials to technology that creates chemicals without carbon emissions, these companies are shaping the future.

Read about all of the Startup of the Year finalists and their missions below, then cast your vote. You can vote once per day through November 12.

The winner, along with winners in all other categories, will be revealed live on November 13 at Greentown Labs. Tickets to the 2025 Houston Innovation Awards are available now — get yours today.

2025 Houston Startup of the Year finalists:

Eclipse Energy

Eclipse Energy, previously known as Gold H2, is a climatetech startup converting end-of-life oil fields into low-cost, sustainable hydrogen sources. The company completed its first field trial this summer, which demonstrated subsurface bio-stimulated hydrogen production. Eclipse Energy says Its technology could yield up to 250 billion kilograms of low-carbon hydrogen.

Rheom Materials

Rheom Materials is a next-generation startup developing biobased materials for a more sustainable future. Its two flagship offerings are Shorai, a sustainable leather alternative that is usable for apparel, accessories, car interiors, and more, and Benree, an alternative to plastic without the carbon footprint.

Solidec

Solidec is a chemical manufacturing company developing autonomous generators that extract molecules from water and air and convert them into pure chemicals and fuels that are free of carbon emissions. The technology eliminates the need for transport, storage, and permitting.

FlowCare

FlowCare is developing a period health platform that integrates smart dispensers, education, and healthcare into one system to make free, high-quality, organic period products more accessible. FlowCare is live at prominent Houston venues, including Discovery Green, Texas Medical Center, The Ion, and, most recently, Space Center Houston, helping make Houston a “period positivity” city.

MyoStep

MyoStep is a next-generation, lightweight, soft exoskeleton developed at University of Houston for children with cerebral palsy. The soft skeleton aims to address motor impairments that impact their ability to participate in physical activities, self-care, and academics, via an affordable, child-friendly solution that empowers mobility and independence.

Persona AI

Persona AI is a humanoid robotics startup that is creating rugged, autonomous robots for skilled, heavy industry work for various "4D" (dull, dirty, dangerous, and declining) jobs. In May, the company announced a memorandum of understanding with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotic, and Vazil Company to create and deploy humanoid robots for complex welding tasks in shipyards. The project will deliver prototype humanoids by the end of 2026.

---

The Houston Innovation Awards program is sponsored by Houston Community College, Houston Powder Coaters, FLIGHT by Yuengling, and more to be announced soon. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact sales@innovationmap.com.

What to expect from the 2025 Greentown Labs' Climatetech Summit Houston

where to be

Greentown Labs' Climatetech Summit Houston will take place next Tuesday, Nov. 4, bringing together philanthropists, executives and innovators in the energy transition space.

John Arnold, co-founder and co-chair of Arnold Ventures, will participate in the keynote fireside chat with Greentown CEO Georgina Campbell Flatter. The conversation will explore "top priorities and opportunities in energy innovation today—with a special focus on how these dynamics are playing out in Houston," according to Greentown.

Other highlights will include:

Welcome remarks from Houston Mayor John Whitmire
A course led by TEX-E Executive Director Sandy Guitar
A philanthropy panel featuring Greentown Labs new Head of Philanthropy Stacey Harris
The Energy Jobs of the Future, featuring Sameer Bandhu, GE Vernova’s managing director, ventures and licensing
An Energy-transition Roadmap, featuring Monica Krishnan, Hermann Lebit and Bobby Tudor and moderated by Varun Rai
What is Climatetech? featuring Kyle Judah, Emerson Denka Wangdi, Laureen Meroueh and Head of Greentown Houston Lawson Gow

Ten Greentown Labs startups will also present their pitches at the event. Expect to hear from:

MCatalysis Inc. CEO, President, and Founder Michael D. Irwin. Dallas-based MCatalysis develops novel, high-efficiency industrial microwave processes and catalysts to produce low-cost, clean synthetic fuels and chemicals from waste carbon resources.
Pike Robotics CEO and co-founder Connor Crawford. Austin-based Pike Robotics provides next-gen robotic solutions for in-service inspection of floating roof storage tanks.
Helix Earth CEO and co-founder Rawand Rasheed. Houston-based Helix Earth retrofits commercial HVAC systems to improve energy efficiency.
10DQ CEO Steven Reece. Greentown Boston member 10DQ has developed its Redox Loop Battery, which uses novel, water-based electrolytes to store energy in dense, low-cost, earth-abundant battery materials.
Janta Power CEO Mohammed Njie. Dallas-based Janta Power is developing 3D solar towers.
Neuralix business operations and product developer Annorah Lewis. Houston-based Neuralix offers a suite of rapid, customizable templates for the data lifecycle for the energy and manufacturing sectors.
Ententia co-founder Nishant Shah. Houston-based Etenitia develops enterprise AI platforms and systems that use domain expertise, rich multi-modal industrial datasets, and generative AI technology to power more effective and efficient business workflows.
Locoal CEO Miles Murray. Boerne, Texas-based Locoal is a waste-to-energy company that has developed a proprietary mobile containerized fluidized gasifier that diverts waste, converts it to clean energy and captures carbon in value-added co-products.
SpiralWave co-founder Adam Amad. San Francisco-based SpiralWave has developed novel electrochemical carbon capture technology that lowers costs.
Biatech founder and CEO Nathan Hartwig. Tampa-based Biatech has built an application-layer AI platform to help energy, mining and infrastructure operators optimize asset performance, reduce risk and improve decision-making.

In addition to the startup pitches, attendees will also be able to meet founders and Greentown members during the afternoon startup showcase. A networking reception at Axelrad Houston follows. A separate ticket offers admission to the showcase and networking event only.

See the full agenda here.

California company launches Tesla Megapack battery project in Houston area

power on

Oakland, California-based Nightpeak Energy announced earlier this month that its 150-megawatt battery storage project in Brazoria County, known as Bocanova Power, is now operating to address Houston’s peak capacity needs.

“This battery storage project will enhance grid reliability in the Alvin area while continuing to support integrating renewable energy,” Cary Perrin, president and CEO of the Northern Brazoria County Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release. “I believe we need energy storage now more than ever for its pivotal role in reducing strain on the grid while meeting fast-growing power demand in Texas and Brazoria County."

The project reached commercial operation in August, according to the release. The project utilizes Tesla's Megapack 2 XL battery storage system, and the facility operates under a long-term power purchase agreement with an undisclosed “investment-grade power purchaser.”

“Bocanova Power demonstrates the speed at which Nightpeak Energy is overcoming complex challenges to energize projects that support America's growing need for affordable, reliable, and secure energy,” Paris Hays, co-founder and CEO/CDO of Nightpeak Energy, added in the news release. “Unprecedented AI data center and manufacturing growth has only accelerated the need for these resources.”

Hays added in the release that the company has plans for more energy infrastructure projects in Texas and in the Western U.S.

Nightpeak Energy develops, owns and operates power plants that support the growing capacity needs of a decarbonized grid. It also owns and operates 240 MW of battery storage and natural gas generation facilities.

The company was founded in 2022 and backed by equity funding of up to $200 million from Dallas-based investment firm Energy Spectrum Capital.

View All Listings

ENERGYCAPITALHTX EMAILS ARE AWESOME