Our Story

UNITING A CITY OF PROBLEM-SOLVERS & INNOVATORS

Our Mission

The Greater Houston Partnership is a collaboration of community-minded business leaders dedicated to strengthening Houston’s position as the Energy Capital of the World. The economic vitality of our region’s economy is inextricably tied to the energy industry—an industry that is changing rapidly to meet growing global energy demands while simultaneously pursuing decarbonization.

The Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) builds on the best of traditional energy skills and systems to leverage Houston’s industry leadership to accelerate global solutions for an energy-abundant, low-carbon future.

Meeting the
Dual Challenge

How
Heti Works

Meet Our Members

HETI works alongside and on behalf of its members to strengthen Houston’s position as the Energy Capital of the World through the energy transition.

A Steering Committee that includes many of Houston’s leading companies across the energy value chain guides HETI’s efforts. Artemis Energy Partners CEO Bobby Tudor currently serves as Chairman and is supported by an adept team of private and public energy leaders. See who’s who on the team.

Our strategy identifies three main objectives

In 2021, the Greater Houston Partnership led an intensive study with strategic analysis and recommendations from McKinsey & Co., the work of the Center for Houston’s Future, the University of Houston, Rice University and more than 60 leaders from across the business, academic and public sectors. These efforts resulted in our ambitious vision:

Leverage Houston’s energy leadership to accelerate global solutions for an energy-abundant, low-carbon future.

Our Team

Bobby Tudor Headshot

Bobby Tudor

HETI Chair
Scott Nyquist Headshot

Scott Nyquist

HETI Vice-Chair
Jane Stricker Headshot

Jane Stricker

Senior VP, Energy Transition & Executive Director
Sophia Cunningham Headshot

Sophia Cunningham

Vice President
Kera Gautreau Headshot

Kera Gautreau

Senior Director
Lou Ann Duvall Headshot

Lou Ann Duvall

Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

HOUSTON ENERGY TRANSITION INITIATIVE TIMELINE

Our plans, commitments, and actions—each building toward the low-carbon future we need.

2019

In 2019, The Houston region launched several key research initiatives with the support of key industry partners and the City of Houston.

  • Rice University launches Carbon Hub: a research initiative with the mission to create a zero-emissions world by using oil and gas to create clean energy. Shell donates $10 million in support.
  • The University of Houston creates the Center for Carbon Management in Energy: a multi-disciplined, collaborative research collective aiming to reduce our carbon footprint and lead the lower-carbon future in the energy industry and societal marketplace.
  • NRG, The City of Houston, University of Houston, CenterPoint, and Shell become Founding Member Sponsors of Evolve Houston: a new public-private partnership created to drive electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the Greater Houston region.
  • Rice University-led Ion Innovation District breaks ground in the former Midtown Sears.

2020

In 2020, City of Houston commences the Climate Action Plan and the Partnership announces a key focus on energy transition for the Houston region.

  • The City of Houston commences the Climate Action Plan: a community-driven strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the global energy transition. As part of the initiative, the City agrees to purchase 100% renewable energy for municipal operations.
  • Greater Houston Partnership announces the “Energy Transition” as a primary focus in our initiatives.
  • bp partners with the City of Houston to advance Climate Action Plan goals.
  • Schlumberger launches their New Energy Systems company to explore global partnerships and opportunities in low-carbon and carbon-neutral technologies.
2021

In 2021, the momentum in the region continues to build as research initiatives are yielding exciting projects and North America’s largest climate tech incubator, Greentown Labs, opens in Houston’s Innovation District.

February

  • wood PLC partners with Resilient Cities Network, chaired by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, to develop urban sustainability solutions and pursue decarbonization.

April

  • Greentown Labs, North America’s largest climate tech incubator, opens in Houston’s Innovation District.
  • The Port of Houston commits to carbon neutrality by 2050, and tracks progress in its annual Environmental, Social, Safety and Governance Action Plan.
  • METRO Houston aims to launch battery-powered electric buses and paratransit vans as part of the larger Climate Action Plan for transit sustainability.

May

  • bp and Linde announce a major Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project that will enable low-carbon hydrogen production at Linde’s existing facilities.

June

  • The Greater Houston Partnership launches the Houston Energy Transition Initiative.
  • The EPA recognizes the Houston region as a national leader in energy innovation across multiple categories.
  • The University of Houston and Southern States Energy Board launch the CCUS Commercialization Consortium and release a tactical roadmap.
  • The Department of Energy awards $4.8 million to Calpine CCSU Holdings to implement CCUS on the Deer Park NGCC power plant.

July

  • Reliant partners with Zirtue, a peer-to-peer relationship-based lending platform, to support equitable access to clean energy solutions.
  • Chevron announces Chevron New Energies to reduce the carbon intensity of operations.

September

  • WattBridge Energy breaks ground on Peak-Power facility to support 200,000 homes in Brazoria County.

October

  • The Department of Energy awards $4 million for an engineering design study for CO2 capture for the Shell Chemicals Complex in Deer Park, Texas.
  • The Department of Energy awards $6 million to Shell and others to demonstrate the feasibility of a large-scale Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) storage tank at import and export terminals.
2022

In 2022, Houston’s energy ecosystem continues to thrive with numerous projects receiving multi-million-dollar investments and key reports being published, including a Sustainability and Resilience Impact Study from NRG.

January

  • HETI officially includes 19 member companies.
  • 14 founding companies launch the Houston CCS Alliance and plan to invest $100 billion to decarbonize Houston Ship Channel.
  • The University of Houston leads the Data Science for Energy Transition project, funded through 2024 by a $1.49 million grant from the National Science Foundation to propel energy transition.
  • Shell invests $6 million to create the PVAMU-Shell Nature-Based Solutions Research Program.

February

  • The City of Houston and CenterPoint Energy launch the Resilient Now initiative to enhance local power resilience.

March

  • The University of Houston announces the Energy Transition Institute with a $10 million commitment from Shell.
  • HETI hosts the first annual Energy Ventures Pitch Competition at CERAWeek with winning startups invited to participate in the Chevron Technology Ventures catalyst program.
  • United Airlines Ventures, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, and Houston startup Cemvita announce a collaboration to commercialize the production of sustainable aviation fuel.

April

  • NRG delivers a Sustainability and Resilience Impact Study to the City of Houston.
  • HIF Global selects Matagorda County for its first industrial-scale eFuels facility in North America.

May

  • The Ion celebrates its grand opening in Houston’s Innovation District.
  • HETI and the Center for Houston’s Future publish a report on Houston as the epicenter of a global clean hydrogen hub.
  • EPRI, Shell, the City of Houston, Greentown Labs, and NYU Urban Future Lab announce startup participants for the H2 accelerator program.
  • Chevron, Talos and Carbonvert announce proposed joint venture expansion to enhance the bayou bend ccs project.
  • bp and Linde advance their CCS project on the Texas Gulf Coast.

June

  • Chevron completes acquisition of Renewable Energy Group.
  • HETI brings 1,500 people together over three days for the Future of Global Energy Conference, showcasing Houston’s leadership in CCSU, Clean Hydrogen, Decarbonization and Climate Equity.

July

  • WattBridge Energy begins commercial operations at the 288MW Braes Bayou power facility and closes on $265M in financing for an additional facility.
  • Dow announces SMR project for their Gulf Coast facility.
  • Shell launches the residential power brand Shell Energy, offering 100% renewable electricity plans.

August

  • Evolve Houston relaunches with a new brand and new executive director.

September

  • bp agrees to purchase Houston-based EDF Energy Services.
  • Evolve launches e-mobility microgrant initiative, with founding members CenterPoint Energy, University of Houston, NRG Energy, Shell USA, and City of Houston, with support from bp and General Motors.
  • Occidental and 1PointFive begin construction of the world’s largest direct air capture plant in the Texas Permian Basin.
  • DOE visits Houston’s Plumbers Local 68 to announce Enhanced Geothermal Shot launch as part of its Energy Earthshots Initiative.

October

  • HETI publishes a report on Houston’s leadership in energy transition finance.
  • The City of Houston proclaims October 11 as “Houston CCS Alliance Day”.
  • bp completes the acquisition of Houston’s Archaea Energy.
  • Occidental, 1PointFive and King Ranch reach a lease agreement to support up to 30 direct air capture plants on leased acreage.
  • Occidental and Natural Resource Partners L.P. agree to evaluate a CO2 storage hub on approximately 65,000 acres of pore space in southeast Texas.
  • Schlumberger rebrands as SLB, with a new focus on energy innovation and decarbonization.
  • A coalition including Chevron, Air Liquide, LyondelBasell, and Uniper announce the pursuit of a hydrogen and ammonia project along U.S. Gulf Coast.
  • Greentown Labs launches the Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E), a first-of-its-kind collaboration among Greentown Labs, MIT and Texas universities focused on energy innovation.

November

  • HyVelocity Hub & Gulf Coast LIGH2T Hydrogen Hubs launched to advance the clean hydrogen ecosystem in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
  • Houston-based tech startup Syzygy Plasmonics raises $76 million in Series C funding round led by Carbon Direct Capital.

December

  • ExxonMobil starts operations at a large-scale advanced plastic recycling facility in Baytown, Texas.
  • HETI and Center for Houston’s Future team up with the Mission Possible Partnership, with support from the Bezos Earth Fund, to accelerate industrial decarbonization in the Houston region.
2023

In 2023, Harris County adopts the Climate Action Plan for internal operations and key energy projects for the region continue to be announced.

January

  • HETI submits the National Science Foundation Engines Type II Proposal for energy transition innovation on behalf of the Greater Houston Area.
  • NRG and Reliant launch the Simple Solar Sell Back electricity plan for Texans.
  • Harris County adopts the Climate Action Plan for Internal Operations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
  • Houston Texans agree to purchase carbon removal credits from 1PointFive and Occidental’s first Direct Air Capture plant.
  • Southern States Energy Board, Linde, INEOS, and MPLX submit to the DOE for the development of leading the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Transition LIGH2T hydrogen hub.
  • Linde announces an investment of $1.8 billion to supply clean hydrogen to OCI’s World-Scale Blue Ammonia Project in Beaumont, Texas.
  • ExxonMobil awards a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen facility in Baytown, Texas.

The Next Big Steps

Discover exactly how we plan to ensure
our successful energy transition.

Our Working Groups