The report ranked each state on both its home and auto efficiency. Photo via Getty Images

How energy efficient is the Lone Star State? A new report finds that Texas has some room for improvement in that department.

In its 2024 "Most & Least Energy-Efficient States" report, WalletHub ranks Texas at No. 36 out of the 50 states with a score of 47.5 out of 100 points.

The report ranked each state on both its home and auto efficiency. Texas came in No. 32 for home energy efficiency, which factored in the National Weather Service's annual degree days.

For auto efficiency, Texas came in at No. 38, but ranked No. 43 for vehicle-fuel efficiency specifically and No. 20 for transportation efficiency.

"We divided the annual vehicle miles driven by gallons of gasoline consumed to determine vehicle-fuel efficiency and measured annual vehicle miles driven per capita to determine transportation efficiency," according to WalletHub, which used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Climatic Data Center, U.S. Energy Information Administration, and U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration.


Source: WalletHub

Texas receives mixed reviews when it comes to energy reports from WalletHub. A June report found that Texas ranked as the fourth cheapest state for energy, and in April the state was found to be the thirteenth least green state.

Zooming in on Houston, the reports don't look any better. Earlier this month, the Bayou City was ranked the third worst metro when it comes to the country's greenest cities.

Yikes, Houston is very far from being considered among the greenest cities in the country. Photo via Getty Images

Houston receives abysmal ranking on list of greenest cities in the US

room for improvement

Bad news, Houston. The Bayou City is the third worst metro when it comes to the country's greenest cities.

According to WalletHub's recently released Greenest Cities in America report, Houston is No. 98 out of 100 of the largest cities that were ranked in the study, which was based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The Trust for Public Land, U.S. Department of Energy - The Alternative Fuels Data Center, and more.

“There are plenty of things that individuals can do to adopt a green lifestyle, from recycling to sharing rides to installing solar panels on their homes. However, living in one of the greenest cities can make it even easier to care for the environment, due to sustainable laws and policies, access to locally-grown produce and infrastructure that allows residents to use vehicles less often," says Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. "The greenest cities also are better for your health due to superior air and water quality.”

Houston scored 36.88 points out of 100, and comes in dead last on the environment ranking. Here's how the city performs when it comes to the other metrics:

  • No. 87 for transportation
  • No. 52 for energy sources
  • No. 61 for lifestyle and policy
  • No. 91 for greenhouse-gas emissions per capita
  • No. 30 for percent of green space
  • No. 86 for median air quality index
  • No. 97 for annual excess fuel consumption
  • No. 56 for percent of commuters who drive
  • No. 39 for walk score
  • No. 33 for farmers markets per capita

The big winners on the report are mostly on the West Coast. Of the top 10, six cities are from California. These are the greenest cities, per the report:

  1. San Diego, California
  2. Washington, D.C.
  3. Honolulu, Hawaii
  4. San Francisco, California
  5. San Jose, California
  6. Seattle, Washington
  7. Oakland, California
  8. Portland, Oregon
  9. Fremont, California
  10. Irvine, California
Texas isn't seen on the list until Austin, which ranked No. 26. The rest of the major Lone Star State major metros include San Antonio at No. 44, Fort Worth at No. 76, and Dallas at No. 81.
While this report is pretty damning, there's not a general consensus that all hope is lost for Houston when it comes to being green. Last year, the city was ranked as having the lowest carbon footprint, based on a report from Park Sleep Fly.

However, WalletHub's report has pretty consistently ranked Houston low on the list. Last year, Houston was slightly higher up at No. 95. In 2022 and 2021, the city claimed the No. 93 spot.

In addition to its No. 22 overall ranking, Texas took first place in the "Vulnerability to Climate Change" category.

Texas named most vulnerable state to climate change in new report

lone star disappointment

The Lone Star State performed most averagely in a new report that ranked all 50 states on environmental protection.

Texas ranked No. 22 on the report from SmileHub, a nonprofit tech platform using data to evaluate charities. The report analyzed 23 metrics — from energy efficiency score and industrial toxins per square mile of land area to climate change vulnerability — factoring in data from U.S. Census Bureau, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Agriculture, and more.

"The U.S. produces over 292 million tons of waste per year, or over 4.9 pounds per person per day, according to the latest data from the Environmental Protection Agency," reads the report. "Additionally, due to pollution, California, Oregon, Michigan, Indiana and South Carolina each have over 12,000 miles of river unsuitable for human contact. Pollution and waste are issues across the U.S., but some states work harder than others to limit their impact."

In addition to its middle-of-the-pack No. 22 overall ranking, Texas took first place in the "Vulnerability to Climate Change" category. Here's how else the state measured up:

  • No. 18 – Environmental Protection Charities per Capita
  • No. 36 – Share of State Land Designated for Parks and Wildlife
  • No. 28 – Energy Efficiency Score
  • No. 28 – Share of Population Using Green Transportation
  • No. 33 – Total Tonnage of Landfill Waste per Capita
  • No. 28 – Industrial Toxins per Square Mile of Land Area

It's not the first time the state performed poorly on recent environmental reports. In April, WalletHub evaluated the current health of states' environment and residents’ environmental-friendliness. Texas ranked No. 38, meaning it was the thirteenth least green state, only scoring 50.40 points out of 100.

Additionally, Houston has stood out for the wrong reasons. In May, Houston was ranked as the No. 15 most polluted city in the U.S. according to data compiled by the National Public Utilities Council. No other Texas city appears in the ranking. Three California cities — Bakersfield, Visalia, and Fresno — took the top three spots.

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Aramco partners to demonstrate compact carbon capture technology for gas turbines

dream team

Integrated energy and chemicals company Aramco has signed a collaboration agreement with Carbon Clean and SAMSUNG E&A in an effort to showcase new carbon capture technology.

The technology demonstration will be used to deploy Carbon Clean’s novel CycloneCC technology to capture CO2 from natural gas turbine exhaust streams containing approximately 4 percent CO2, according to Aramco.

Carbon Clean, which U.S. headquarters are located in Houston at the Ion, boasts technology that has captured nearly two million tons of carbon dioxide at almost 50 sites around the world. Aramco’s U.S. headquarters is also in Houston.

“The potential for CycloneCC in the US and Houston area is huge,” Aniruddha Sharma, chair and CEO of Carbon Clean, previously shared with EnergyCapital. “It is optimised for low to medium scale industrial emitters and recent Rice University research on the US Gulf Coast, for example, found that it is well suited to 73 percent of Gulf Coast emitters.”

The modular CycloneCC unit has a 50 percent smaller footprint compared to conventional carbon capture processes. The CycloneCC technology is estimated to reduce the total installed cost of carbon capture systems by up to 50 percent compared to conventional systems if successful. The goal is to also maintain process efficiency even at low CO2 concentrations. CycloneCC’s performance is achieved through two process intensification technologies, rotating packed beds (RPBs) and Carbon Clean’s proprietary APBS-CDRMax solvent.

“Its compact, modular design should be easily integrated with gas turbines, delivering high performance carbon capture in an industrial setting where space is typically limited,” Sharma says in a news release.

The engineering, procurement and construction of the plant will be done by SAMSUNG E&A .The unit will be installed on the sales gas compressor turbine exhaust gas stack,which can provide performance data under real-world conditions.

“Aramco and Samsung Ventures are investors in Carbon Clean, so we’re proud to deepen our relationship through this partnership,” Sharma adds. “This first-of-a-kind deployment capturing very low concentrations of CO2 is a key milestone in scaling up and commercializing CycloneCC.”

In September, Carbon Clean also announced a deal with PETRONAS CCS Solution to collaborate and evaluate Carbon Clean’s carbon capture and storage technology with Carbon Clean's CycloneCC tech. Last year, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) selected Carbon Clean for a carbon capture project in Abu Dhabi.

Houston energy tech company scores spot on Deloitte's list of fast-growing businesses

by the numbers

Deloitte’s annual North America Technology Fast 500 list includes a Houston energy tech company boasting 407 percent growth.

NatGas Hub LLC landed at No. 286 on the list, which is an annual ranking of the fastest-growing North American companies in technology, energy tech sectors, telecommunications, life sciences, media, and fintech. It marks an improvement for the company, which provides an automation software for natural gas nominations and scheduling services. In 2023, the company ranked No. 356 with 364 percent growth.

Direct Digital Holdings Inc. took the highest-ranking spot for Houston companys, coming in at No. 101 (up from 108 previous year) with 1,184 percent growth. Additional Houston companies on the list include Liongard (No. 437, 246 percent growth) and Stratus Medical LLC (No. 483, 212 percent growth).

"Houston continues to demonstrate its prowess in fostering growth and technological advancement and I’m incredibly proud to see some of our local companies making significant strides and earning their well-deserved spots on the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list,” Houston managing partner at Deloitte Melinda Yee says in a news release.

Award winners were selected based on fiscal year revenue growth from 2019 to 2022.

The companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 201 percent to 153,625 percent over the three-year time frame with an average growth rate of 1,981 percent and a median growth rate of 460 percent, according to a news release. Texas accounts for 6 percent of the winning companies with 73 percent of the companies from Texas are in the software sector.

“These companies exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset that define Houston's dynamic business ecosystem,” Yee adds.

In 2023, the Houston representation looked similar. Direct Digital Holdings again topped the Houston rankings at No. 108, with Liongard, NatGasHub.com, and P97 Networks also showing substantial growth. As a state, Texas had 30 companies that made the list of the 541 ranked. In 2022, just one Houston company was recognized, as at No. 372 Onit reported revenue increase of 369 percent.

Biopharmaceutical company TG Therapeutics, Inc. was the No.1 spot in 2024 with a growth rate of 153,625 percent from 2020 to 2023. See the full list here.

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This article originally ran on InnovationMap.

Houston founder on driving the future of geothermal energy, storage

now streaming

Cindy Taff, co-founder and CEO of Sage GeoSystems, has emerged as a visionary leader in the energy transition, recently named to Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business for 2024. Under her leadership, Sage is not only advancing geothermal energy innovation but also redefining how energy storage can support a renewable-powered grid.

In a recent Energy Tech Startups Podcast episode, Taff discussed the evolution of Sage GeoSystems, the challenges of scaling hard tech solutions, and the opportunities presented by geothermal and pumped hydro energy storage. Her insights reflect the unique perspective of a founder bridging oil and gas expertise with renewable energy innovation.

- YouTubeCindy shares how Sage Geosystems is leveraging its oil and gas expertise to develop groundbreaking subsurface pumped hydro ...

Breaking Boundaries with Geopressured Geothermal Systems

Sage GeoSystems is at the forefront of next-generation geothermal energy, advancing Geopressured Geothermal Systems (GGS) that can be deployed in a wide range of geographies. Unlike traditional geothermal systems, which rely on natural water reservoirs near volcanic activity, Sage’s engineered reservoirs allow geothermal energy to be tapped almost anywhere.

“Geothermal energy is no longer restricted to specific conditions,” Taff explained. “Our systems are flexible, scalable, and capable of meeting the needs of energy-intensive applications like data centers—including a recent deal with Meta to deliver 150 megawatts of geothermal power for their facilities.”

This adaptability sets Sage apart, offering a path to reliable, clean energy that can complement intermittent sources like wind and solar. Sage also secured a win in the Energy Transition Business category alongside notable finalists like Amperon and Tierra Climate, underscoring its leadership in innovative energy solutions.

Pivoting Toward Subsurface Energy Storage

While initially focused solely on geothermal, Sage uncovered a transformative opportunity in subsurface pumped hydro energy storage during field trials. Dubbed “upside-down pumped hydro,” the solution provides long-duration energy storage capable of balancing the grid for 17+ hours—far surpassing the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries for extended periods.

“Pumped storage hydropower is a critical piece of the energy puzzle,” Taff emphasized. By storing energy during off-peak times and releasing it when solar and wind aren’t producing, Sage is helping bridge the intermittency gap in renewables. This approach positions pumped storage as a game-changer for a reliable, clean energy grid.

Lessons from the Founder’s Journey

Taff’s transition from a 35-year career at Shell to geothermal entrepreneurship offers valuable lessons for founders in capital-intensive industries:

  1. Leverage Expertise, but Stay Open to New Solutions:
    Taff’s oil and gas background enabled her to approach geothermal with deep technical knowledge, but Sage’s pivot to energy storage illustrates the importance of staying adaptable during development.
  2. Educate Financial Stakeholders:
    Securing funding for hard tech remains a challenge. “Investors often lack the subsurface knowledge needed to understand our technology,” Taff explained. She emphasized the need to bring on team members who can translate technical innovation into financial terms.
  3. Be Ready for Capital-Intensive Scaling:
    With geothermal plants costing millions to build, startups must carefully manage capital and timelines. Taff encourages founders to seek strategic investors, like Chesapeake Energy, who understand the challenges and potential of scaling infrastructure.

Beyond Geothermal: A Call for Pumped Storage Hydropower

In addition to geothermal, Taff champions pumped storage hydropower as an underutilized climate solution. “While lithium-ion batteries get a lot of attention, pumped storage hydropower offers long-duration storage that can stabilize the grid for days, not just hours,” she said.

By storing excess energy during off-peak times and releasing it when solar and wind aren’t producing, pumped storage hydropower can play a critical role in balancing renewables. Sage GeoSystems is uniquely positioned to integrate this technology into a broader energy strategy, offering sustainable and scalable solutions for energy-intensive industries.

A Vision for Geothermal and the Energy Transition

Looking ahead, Taff sees geothermal energy and storage as critical components of a sustainable energy mix. “We’re still in the early stages, but geothermal is following a trajectory similar to wind and solar 15 years ago,” she said. Sage’s innovative approaches are paving the way for geothermal to become a scalable, competitive solution, capable of powering industries and data centers while providing energy storage that stabilizes the grid.

With her recognition by Time magazine and a recent deal with Meta, Sage GeoSystems is proving that geothermal energy can be a powerful ally in achieving global decarbonization goals. The company’s innovative Geopressured Geothermal Systems and subsurface storage solutions are laying the groundwork for a reliable and sustainable energy future.

Listen to the full episode with Cindy Taff on the Energy Tech Startups Podcast here.

Energy Tech Startups Podcast is hosted by Jason Ethier and Nada Ahmed. It delves into Houston's pivotal role in the energy transition, spotlighting entrepreneurs and industry leaders shaping a low-carbon future.