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Houston energy transition events not to miss, expert commentary on climate crisis, and more things to know

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Houston energy transition folks — here's what to know to start your week. Photo via Getty Images

Editor's note: Start your week off strong with three quick things to catch up on in Houston's energy transition: a roundup of events not to miss, a new Houston energy executive to know, and more.

Events not to miss

Put these Houston-area energy-related events on your calendar.

    • Future of Energy Summit is Tuesday, February 6, at AC Hotel by Marriott Houston Downtown. Register.
    • The 2024 NAPE Summit is Wednesday, February 7, to Friday, February 9, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. It's the energy industry’s marketplace for the buying, selling and trading of prospects and producing properties. Register.
    • The De Lange Conference, taking place February 9 and 10 at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, is centered around the theme “Brave New Worlds: Who Decides? Research, Risk and Responsibility” this year. Register.
    • The Future of Energy Across the Americas: Helping Lawyers Predict and Adapt — the 2024 Houston Energy Conference — is February 27 to March 1. Register.
    • CERAWeek 2024 is Monday, March 18, to Friday, March 22, in the George R. Brown Convention Center. Register.

    ​Commentary: Chris Wood, co-founder of Moonshot Compost, on loving the climate apocalypse​

    Chris Wood knows that the last thing anyone wants to be reminded of in 2024 is the impending climate apocalypse, but, as he writes in his guest column, "There is a scientific consensus that the world climate is trending towards uninhabitable for many species, including humans, due in large part to results of human activity."

    He cites a report that 93 percent “believe that climate change poses a serious and imminent threat to the planet.”

    "Until recently reviewing this report, I was unaware that 93 percent of any of us could agree on anything," he writes. "It got me thinking, how much of our problem today is based on misunderstanding both the nature of the problem and the solution?" Read more.

    New hire: Bracewell names new partner to advise clients on energy transition tax incentives

    Bracewell announced that Jennifer Speck has joined the firm's tax department as a partner in the Houston office. Speck will advise clients on energy transition tax incentives.

    Some of her experiences include onshore and offshore wind, solar, carbon capture, clean hydrogen and clean fuel projects. She recently served as senior manager of tax and regulatory compliance at Navigator CO2 Ventures LLC. She graduated in 2010 with a B.F.A. in mental health psychology from Northeastern State University, and received her J.D., with honors, from The University of Tulsa College of Law in 2012. Read more.

    Bracewell announced that Jennifer Speck has joined the firm's tax department as a partner in the Houston office. Photo via LinkedIn

    Energy-focused law firm names new Houston partner

    new hire

    A law and government relations firm serving energy, infrastructure, finance, and technology industries has named a new Houston partner.

    Bracewell announced that Jennifer Speck has joined the firm's tax department as a partner in the Houston office. Speck will advise clients on energy transition tax incentives.

    Some of her experiences include onshore and offshore wind, solar, carbon capture, clean hydrogen and clean fuel projects. She recently served as senior manager of tax and regulatory compliance at Navigator CO2 Ventures LLC. She graduated in 2010 with a B.F.A. in mental health psychology from Northeastern State University, and received her J.D., with honors, from The University of Tulsa College of Law in 2012.

    "Jenny has significant experience in critical tax credits for carbon capture and other energy transition projects," Elizabeth L. McGinley, chair of Bracewell's tax department, says in a news release. "Her knowledge of these, and other, tax incentives strengthens our ability to help clients take full advantage of the tax benefits available under the Inflation Reduction Act."

    Nationally recognized, Bracewell's tax department is known for its experience involving tax matters related to the energy industry. Bracewell has also led the development of one of the country's largest multidisciplinary energy transition legal teams.

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    30+ CERAWeek events featuring Houston energy leaders

    where to be

    CERAWeek returns to Houston March 23-27, bringing more than 1,000 speakers, executives and energy innovators to Houston.

    Under this year's theme, "Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology and Geopolitics,” panels will tackle topics ranging from policy and global relations to the growing role of AI in the energy sector. Most of the innovation-themed events are organized under the Agora track and will feature many Houston-area startups, universities, companies and scientists. Panels will feature leaders from Fortune 500 companies and top U.S. government officials, scientists and founders pushing towards a more carbon-neutral future.

    Here are some of the many events featuring Houston leaders on the Agora track you can't miss if you want to learn more about Houston energy innovation.

    Monday, March 23rd


    Scaling Innovation: Building the ecosystem for the next energy breakthroughs

    Featuring: Georgina Campbell Flatter, CEO of Greentown Labs

    This event is at 10:30 a.m. Find more info here

    Vaulted Deep | The Subsurface as Waste and Carbon Infrastructure

    Featuring: Julia Reichelstein, co-founder and CEO of Vaulted Deep

    This event is at 11:30 a.m. Find more info here

    Collaboration Spotlight | Collision Course: How Houston's Ion District turns proximity into innovation

    Featuring: Adrian Tromel, chief innovation officer at Rice University; Rawand Rasheed, co-founder and CEO of Helix Earth Technologies; Marc Davidson, senior technical advisor at Veriten

    This event is at 1:30 p.m. Find more info here.

    Methane Reduction in Practice: Field learnings

    Featuring: Matt Kolesar, chief environmental scientist at ExxonMobil

    This event is at 2 p.m. Find more info here.

    Time-to-AI: Shrinking the data-center clock

    Featuring: Robert Ott, vice president of wholesale origination at NRG Energy; Andrew Johnston, business line director, data centers at SLB

    This event is at 2:30 p.m. Find more info here.

    Scaling CCUS: Which industries, regions and funding sources?

    Featuring: Gino Thielens, vice president of renewables and energy efficiency at SLB; Ian McIntyre, senior vice president, 1PointFive

    This event is at 3 p.m. Find more info here.

    Democratization of AI: Redefining where work gets done

    Featuring: Rob Crane, technology scouting and venturing manager at SLB

    This event is at 3:30 p.m. Find more info here.

    Tuesday, March 24th


    Syzygy Plasmonics | Affordable, Globally Compliant SAF Using Abundant Biogas Feedstock

    Featuring: Trevor Best, CEO and founder of Syzygy Plasmonics

    This event is at noon. Find more info here.

    Accelerating Idea to Impact: Carving new ways to innovation

    Featuring: David Sholl, executive vice president for research at Rice University

    This event is at 1 p.m. Find more info here.

    NRG | From the Front Lines: A deep dive into grid reliability

    Featuring: Matthew Pistner, senior vice president of generation at NRG Energy; Robert Patrick, vice president of development engineering and construction at NRG Energy

    This event is at 1:30 p.m. Find more info here.

    Energy Efficiency: The industrial advantage

    Featuring: Jason Urso, CTO of Honeywell Industrial Automation

    This event is at 1:30 p.m. Find more info here.

    The CEO Blueprint | Strategy

    Featuring: Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO and chairman of Baker Hughes

    This event is at 2:55 p.m. Find more info here.

    Occidental | Beyond the Technology: Turning direct air capture into CDR credits

    Featuring: William Barrett, vice president of product development at 1PointFive

    This event is at 3:30 p.m. Find more info here.

    Wednesday, March 25th


    Innovations in Sustainable Steel

    Featuring: Laureen Meroueh, founder and CEO of Heartha Metals Inc.

    This event is at 9 a.m. Find more info here.

    Rice University | The Science of Geologic Carbon Storage

    Featuring: Sahar Bakhshian, assistant professor, earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Rice University

    This event is at 9:30 a.m. Find more info here.

    Sparking Innovation: The impact of interdisciplinary collaboration

    Featuring: Marie Contou Carrere, executive director of the Rice Sustainability Institute; Sandy Guitar, executive director of TEX-E

    This event is at 10 a.m. Find more info here.

    Models of Innovation, Models of Capital

    Featuring: Bobby Tudor, chair of Houston Energy Transition Initiative and chairman of the board for Greentown Labs

    This event is at 10:30 a.m. Find more info here.

    Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition

    This event is at noon. Find more info here. Learn more about the competing teams here.

    Baker Hughes | Meeting Industrial and AI-Driven Energy Demand with Flexible, Reliable and Sustainable Power Solutions

    Featuring: Daniele Marcucci, industrial power generation product director at Baker Hughes; Florent Rousset, geothermal leader, new energies at Baker Hughes

    This event is at noon. Find more info here.

    Thursday, March 26th


    Mission-driven Minds: How space exploration inspires the next generation of energy innovators

    Featuring: Trina Sadberry, head of brand & engagement in the United States at Equinor; Laura Dandridge, corporate affairs advisor at Chevron; Jack Fischer, chief integration officer at Intuitive Machines; Ginger Kerrick Davis, chief strategy officer at Barrios Technology

    This event is at 9 a.m. Find more info here.

    Rice University | Nature-based Solutions: A focus on biochar and enhanced rock weathering

    Featuring: Carrie Masiello, director of the sustainability institute at Rice University; Mark Torres, associate professor, earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Rice University

    This event is at 9:30 a.m. Find more info here.

    Growing Direct Air Capture

    Featuring: Anthony Cottone, resident and general manager at 1PointFive

    This event is at 9:30 a.m. Find more info here.

    Occidental | Advancement and Growth Opportunities for Enhanced Oil Recovery

    Featuring: Vishal Gupta, president and general manager of EOR Ventures at Occidental

    This event is at 9:30 a.m. Find more info here.

    Geothermal: Charting progress on technological advancements

    Featuring: Jonathan Ajo-Franklin, trustee professor, earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Rice University; Florent Rousset, geothermal leader, new energies at Baker Hughes

    This event is at 10 a.m. Find more info here.

    Newfound Materials | Bridging the Synthesis Gap in AI-Driven Materials Innovation

    Featuring: Matt McDermott, founder and CEO of Newfound Materials

    This event is at 10 a.m. Find more info here.

    Hertha Metals | The Future of Steel Production: Going beyond the blast furnace

    Featuring: Laureen Meroueh, founder and CEO of Heartha Metals Inc.

    This event is at 11 a.m. Find more info here.

    Advanced Materials with Low-Carbon Intensity

    Featuring: Matteo Pasquali, director of the Rice Carbon Hub

    This event is at 11:30 a.m. Find more info here.

    Lessons from the Lab: Common pitfalls of hard tech startups

    Featuring: Jeremy Pitts, managing director of Activate Houston

    This event is at 11:30 a.m. Find more info here.

    TotalEnergies | Accelerating Direct Air Capture

    Featuring: Isabelle Betremieux, head of R&T CO2 capture department at TotalEnergies

    This event is at 1 p.m. Find more info here.

    Spotlight: "NextGen" energy leaders of the future

    Featuring: Renu Khator, chancellor and president of the University of Houston

    This event is at 3 p.m. Find more info here.

    Solidec | On-site, On-demand Production of Essential Chemicals

    Featuring: Ryan DuChanois, co-founder and CEO of Solidec

    This event is at 3:30 p.m. Find more info here.

    Fervo secures $421M in financing for Cape Station construction

    fresh funding

    Houston geothermal unicorn Fervo Energy has closed $421 million in non-recourse debt financing for the first phase of its flagship Cape Station project in Beaver County, Utah.

    Fervo believes Cape Station can meet the needs of surging power demand from data centers, domestic manufacturing and an energy market aiming to use clean and reliable power. According to the company, Cape Station will begin delivering its first power to the grid this year and is expected to reach approximately 100 megwatts of operating capacity by early 2027. Fervo added that it plans to scale to 500 megawatts.

    The $421 million financing package includes a $309 million construction-to-term loan, a $61 million tax credit bridge loan, and a $51 million letter of credit facility. The facilities will fund the remaining construction costs for the first phase of Cape Station, and will also support the project’s counterparty credit support requirements.

    Coordinating lead arrangers include Barclays, BBVA, HSBC, MUFG, RBC and Société Générale, with additional participation from Bank of America, J.P. Morgan and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, New York Branch.

    “As demand for firm, clean, affordable power accelerates, EGS (Enhanced Geothermal Systems) is set to become a core energy asset class for infrastructure lenders,” Sean Pollock, managing director, project Finance at RBC Capital Markets, said in a news release. “Fervo is pioneering this step change with Cape Station, a vital contribution to American energy security that RBC is proud to support.”

    The oversubscribed financing marks Cape Station’s shift from early-stage and bridge funding to a long-term, non-recourse capital structure, according to the news release.

    “Non-recourse financing has historically been considered out of reach for first-of-a-kind projects,” David Ulrey, CFO of Fervo Energy, said in a news release. “Cape Station disrupts that narrative. With proven oil and gas technology paired with AI-enabled drilling and exploration, robust commercial offtake, operational consistency, and an unrelenting focus on health and safety, we have shown that EGS is a highly bankable asset class.”

    Fervo continues to be one of the top-funded startups in the Houston area. The company has raised about $1.5 billion prior to the latest $421 million. It also closed a $462 million Series E in December.

    According to Axios Pro, Fervo filed for an IPO that would value the company between $2 billion and $3 billion in January.

    HETI members to take the stage at CERAWeek 2026 in Houston

    The View from HETI

    CERAWeek returns to Houston March 23–27, convening global industry leaders to explore the trends shaping the future of energy.

    The Greater Houston Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) members will play a key role in this year’s program, contributing to discussions spanning digital innovation, power systems, decarbonization and workforce. Below are the sessions featuring HETI members throughout the week:

    AI in Energy: Managing the Transformation
    Monday, March 23 | 9:30-10:00 a.m.
    Speakers: Hector Rocha, Accenture; Rebecca Hofmann, Blockchain For Energy; Paul Markwell, S&P Global

    Scaling Innovation: Building the Ecosystem for the Next Energy Breakthroughs
    Monday, March 23 | 10:30-11:10 a.m.
    Speakers: Graham Gordon, Accenture; Carolyn Seto, S&P Global; Bernie Bulkin, Global Energy Infrastructure Plc; Georgina Campbell Flatter, Greentown Labs
    Examines how partnerships across capital, policy and infrastructure can accelerate commercialization and scaling of breakthrough energy technologies.

    Oil Strategies for a World in Transition
    Monday, March 23 | 11:15-11:55 a.m.
    Speakers: Olivier Le Peuch, SLB; Anders Opedal, Equinor; Vicki Hollub, Occidental; Atul Arya, S&P Global
    Discusses how producers are adapting portfolio strategies to balance resilience, demand outlooks and transition pressures.

    Gas: Growing Markets and New Players
    Monday, March 23 | 12:00-12:40 p.m.
    Speakers: Liz Westcott, Woodside Energy; Toby Rice, EQT Corporation; Shankari Srinivasan, S&P Global; Ryosuke Tsugaru, JERA CO., INC.

    Advances in Exploration Technologies for Oil & Gas and Mining
    Monday, March 23 | 1:30-2:10 p.m.
    Speakers: Amy Callahan, Accenture; Hussein Shel, Amazon Web Services; Oscar Abbink, S&P Global
    Highlights sensing, imaging and AI tools improving discovery efficiency and sustainability in exploration.

    AI in Action: From Pilot to Profit
    Monday, March 23 | 1:30-2:00 p.m.
    Speakers: Shridevi Bale, Accenture; Paul Gruenwald, S&P Global
    Shares lessons from scaling AI deployments beyond pilots into measurable operational value.

    Power Networks: Collaborating to Meet Demand
    Monday, March 23 | 2:15-2:55 p.m.
    Speakers: Lawrence Coben, NRG Energy; Jim Murphy, Invenergy; Eduard Sala de Vedruna, S&P Global
    Examines grid readiness and collaboration models needed to manage surging electricity demand.

    New Phase of Gas: From Regional Security to Global Market Integration
    Monday, March 23 | 3:00-3:40 p.m.
    Speakers: Cederic Cremers, Shell; Balaji Krishnamurthy, Chevron; Kevin Gallagher, Santos; Mansoor Al Hamed, Mubadala Energy; Dave Ernsberger, S&P Global
    Discusses LNG’s evolving role in global integration, energy security and future pricing structures.

    Transforming Upstream: Pathways to Scaling New Technologies
    Monday, March 23 | 7:00-8:30 p.m.
    Speakers: Rami El Debs, Accenture; Trey Lowe, Devon Energy; Bader Al-Attar, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation
    Explores adoption of advanced digital and automation technologies in upstream operations.

    Leadership Dialogue
    Tuesday, March 24 | 9:00-9:20 a.m.
    Speakers: Wael Sawan, Shell; Daniel Yergin, S&P Global

    One Grid, One ASEAN: Building a Shared Clean Energy Future
    Tuesday, March 24 | 10:30-11:10 a.m.
    Speakers: Akihiro Ondo, Mitsubishi Power; Gauri Jauhar, S&P Global

    Harmonizing Carbon Accounting: Charting a Path Forward
    Tuesday, March 24 | 10:40-11:20 a.m.
    Speakers: Edward Stones, Dow; Sasha Mackler, ExxonMobil; Musaab Al-Mulla, Saudi Aramco; Kevin Birn, S&P Global
    Examines efforts to standardize emissions accounting to improve comparability and market transparency.

    Global Exploration Revival: Lessons and New Strategies
    Tuesday, March 24 | 11:30-12:10 p.m.
    Speakers: John Ardill, ExxonMobil; Dan Pratt, S&P Global; Guido Brusco, Eni

    How Will AI Change the Game for Energy Profitability?
    Tuesday, March 24 | 12:20-1:00 p.m.
    Speakers: Rakesh Jaggi, SLB; Jim Masso, Honeywell; Atul Arya, S&P Global; Darryl Willis, Microsoft; Renata Baruzzi, Petrobras
    Examines how AI and cloud technologies could reshape cost structures and performance across energy systems.

    Balancing Act: Price, Reliability and the Global Call on U.S. Energy
    Tuesday, March 24 | 2:35-3:15 p.m.
    Speakers: Stéphane Michel, TotalEnergies; Eleonor Kramarz, S&P Global; Matt Schatzman, NextDecade; Brian Falik, Mercuria Energy America
    Explores tensions between domestic supply reliability and global export opportunities.

    The Future of Upstream: Matching Capital Discipline with Opportunity
    Tuesday, March 24 | 2:35-3:15 p.m.
    Speakers: Richard Jackson, Occidental; Philippe Mathieu, Equinor; Niloufar Molavi, PwC; Bob Fryklund, S&P Global

    Transforming the Energy Industry: How Will Technology Change Business Models?
    Tuesday, March 24 | 2:35- 3:15 p.m.
    Speakers: Ryder Booth, Chevron; Peter Terwiesch, ABB; Atul Arya, S&P Global
    Examines digital transformation and new partnership models reshaping energy value chains.

    Sustainable Solutions: Partnership, Technology and Innovative Paths
    Tuesday, March 24 | 3:25-4:05 p.m.
    Speakers: Barry Engle, ExxonMobil; Luis Cabra, Repsol; Leanne Todd, S&P Global; Roeland Baan, Topsoe
    Highlights collaborative approaches to deploying scalable decarbonization solutions.

    The Future of Refining: Resilience, Innovation and Low-Carbon Pathways
    Tuesday, March 24 | 3:25-4:05 p.m.
    Speakers: Amber Russell, bp; Kurt Barrow, S&P Global; Martijn van Koten, OMV; Atsuhiko Hirano, Idemitsu; Magnus Heimburg, VAROPreem
    Explores how refining and supply chains are adapting to policy, demand and emissions pressures.

    Reinventing Business Strategies: Thriving in the New Energy Economy
    Tuesday, March 24 | 4:15-4:55 p.m.
    Speakers: Muqsit Ashraf, Accenture; Philippe Frangules, S&P Global; Sushil Purohit, Gentari Sdn Bhd
    Discusses evolving strategies integrating new technologies and markets.

    Creating AI-Ready Organizations
    Tuesday, March 24 | 4:20-5:05 p.m.
    Speakers: David Rabley, Accenture; Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, Schneider Electric; Dave Ernsberger, S&P Global; Rob Schapiro, Microsoft; Geoffrey Parker, Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society at Dartmouth
    Focuses on workforce, leadership and infrastructure required for effective AI adoption.

    Meeting Power Demand for Data Centers
    Wednesday, March 25 | 10:30-11:20 a.m.
    Speakers: Karim Amin, Siemens Energy; Ed Baine, Dominion Energy; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global; Ingmar Ritzenhofen, RWE Supply & Trading and RWE Clean Energy; Amanda Peterson Corio, Google; Jim Shield, Invenergy
    Discusses strategies for aligning infrastructure, policy and markets to meet data-center load growth.

    Where Agentic AI Is Now and What Comes Next
    Wednesday, March 25 | 10:30-11:00 a.m.
    Speakers: Tathagata Basu, Honeywell; Ben Wilson, Amazon Web Services, Bhavesh Dayalji, S&P Global

    People Power: Strategic Human Capital in a New Energy Era
    Wednesday, March 25 | 10:40-11:20 a.m.
    Speakers: Jessica Van Singel, Accenture
    Examines workforce strategy alignment with innovation and competitiveness goals.

    Global Energy Pathways in the Age of Abundance
    Wednesday, March 25 | 11:45-12:35 p.m.
    Speakers: Gareth Ramsay, bp; Atul Arya, S&P Global; Olu Verheijen, Office of the President of the Federal Public of Nigeria

    Agentic AI: Embracing Autonomy
    Thursday, March 26 | 10:00-10:30 a.m.
    Speakers: Trygve Randen, SLB; Uwa Airhiavbere, Microsoft; Eric Hanselman, S&P Global
    Examines governance and reliability considerations as autonomous AI systems expand in energy.

    The Changing Mix of U.S. Power Generation: Gas, Renewables, Coal, Nuclear and Beyond
    Thursday, March 26 | 10:30-11:20 a.m.
    Speakers: Bill Newsom, Mitsubishi Power; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global; John-Paul Jones, Urenco Enrichment Company; Leslie Duke, Burns & McDonnell; Mike DeBock, NextEra Energy Resources
    Explores how policy and technology shifts are reshaping generation portfolios.

    Large Load Growth: Reshaping the Future of Power
    Thursday, March 26 | 11:10-11:50 a.m.
    Speakers: Robert Gaudette, NRG Energy; Petter Skantze, NextEra Energy Resources; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global; Peter Lake, National Energy Dominance Council
    Discusses planning and market responses to large-scale electricity demand.

    Interconnecting America: The Grid’s Last Mile
    Thursday, March 26 | 12:00-12:40 p.m.
    Speakers: Tim Holt, Siemens Energy; Philippe Frangules, S&P Global; David Brast, TC Energy; David Rosner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

    AI: Driving Performance in the Power Sector
    Thursday, March 26 | 3:05-3:45 p.m.
    Speakers: Dak Liyanearachchi, NRG Energy; Hanna Grene, Microsoft; Douglas Giuffre, S&P Global
    Explores AI use cases improving grid management and forecasting.

    Digital Twins: The AI Enabler for Multiple Sectors
    Thursday, March 26 | 4:30-5:10 p.m.
    Speakers: Sacha Abinader, Accenture; Oscar Abbink, S&P Global
    Examines digital twins enabling predictive maintenance and AI training environments.

    View the full CERAWeek agenda.

    ———

    This article originally appeared on the Greater Houston Partnership's Houston Energy Transition Initiative blog. HETI exists to support Houston's future as an energy leader. For more information about the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, EnergyCapitalHTX's presenting sponsor, visit htxenergytransition.org.

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