Leaders of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) offered an update on the initiative’s progress and hosted a keynote address from a national energy policy expert during day two of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Future of Global Energy conference this week.  One year after its launch, HETI has brought together 18 leading companies to help steer the initiative’s agenda and established four sector-specific, industry-led working groups focused on carbon capture use and storage (CCUS), hydrogen, industrial decarbonization and capital formation.  “These first four working groups align with Houston’s strengths, leverage our incumbent industry’s assets, expertise and capability as well as the regions’ existing infrastructure, and they aim to address significant sources of emissions,” said Bobby Tudor, Chair of HETI and CEO of Artemis Energy Partners.  Tudor said HETI is raising the profile of Houston as both an attractive and sustainable urban destination and the epicenter of low-carbon energy technology development and deployment. “Startups and established energy companies alike see Houston as the place where low-carbon energy solutions will scale and be integrated into the existing energy infrastructure,” he said.  The Partnership initiated its energy transition work with the launch of organization’s New Energy Taskforce in 2018. Tackling the energy transition was the primary focus for Tudor as chair of the Partnership in 2020 and HETI officially launched in June 2021 along with a strategy for how Houston can lead the global transition to a low-carbon, energy abundant future.   Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey offered perspective on what the Houston region stands to gain as a leader in the transition, as well as the global imperative. “We need to invest in new sources of energy and in decarbonization technologies that provide humans with affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to power our future,” he said.  Day two of the conference, presented by Chevron, also featured a keynote address from Marty Durbin, President of the Global Energy Institute and Senior Vice President of Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Durbin discussed the impact of the energy transition on the nation as a whole as well as the growing buy-in from the business community.  ⁠“From the U.S. Chamber standpoint, this is about maintaining, defending, and enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. businesses as we work through the energy transition,” Durbin said. He added that ambitious goals around addressing climate change and achieving the energy transition will only be met by developing the necessary technology and adopting new policies.  “It’s so important that the people in this room tell the good story about progress in energy transition. We need to be ambassadors and educate others around what this industry is willing to do and is already doing” to address climate change, Durbin said.  Echoing that sentiment, HETI Executive Director Jane Stricker said Houston needs to continue to cultivate opportunities to share what this region is doing right and how important the energy industry is and will continue to be to both our regional and global economy.  “We will be successful when we are recognized as a world leader in key technologies like CCUS, hydrogen, advanced plastics recycling, and energy storage, while also creating an environment that attracts and grows companies in all energy value chains,” Stricker said.  “Two of Houston’s greatest strengths are its diversity and the willingness of Houstonians to come together to tackle big challenges,” said Tudor. “It is the combination of these strengths that will ensure our continued economic success through the transition.” Learn more about the Houston Energy Transition Initiative and check back for a recap on day three of the conference.   

HOUSTON (June 27, 2022) - The City of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership are leading a trade and investment mission to Paris, France this week.  The mission will focus on promoting Houston as a leader in innovation, energy transition, and education while enhancing key government and business relationships between the Houston region and Paris.  Targeted business sectors include energy and innovation with ties in Houston and France. The delegation has several scheduled meetings with high-level government officials and representatives.  The Houston-Galveston Customs District is the fourth busiest gateway for U.S.-French trade, and France is Houston's sixth-largest European trading partner. From 2012 to 2021, trade between Houston and France averaged $4.2 billion annually and was valued at $5.5 billion in '21. "Our priority is to build a more robust trade relationship between Houston and France, and this trip is an essential mission to enrich Houston's ties with France and explore new business opportunities that will enhance our local economy with jobs and investments," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "As a city of innovation, we value France - based businesses with established operations in our city and welcome others to explore the opportunities for investment, business development and tourism available in Houston. Our delegation will expand on Houston's global city status that makes Houston strong and unique." Mayor Sylvester Turner, who was scheduled to lead the delegation, will remain in Houston to attend to a personal matter. Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex Tatum, who chairs the City Council Economic Development Committee, will handle business meetings and cultural events scheduled during the weeklong mission. "I am excited about the opportunity to represent Houston in Paris officially. The mission will put Houston in the international spotlight, capturing our city's role as a leader in innovation, aerospace, energy transition, and education. When we position ourselves to build international business ties, the entire city can potentially benefit through jobs and growth in our economy," said Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Castex Tatum. On Monday, the delegation joined Valerie Baraban, the Consul General of France in Houston, on a tour of the Musée d'Orsay. The museum's leadership visited Houston in 2019 to build local relationships. The delegation also attended a Bilateral Business Trade and Investment Forum with the Paris Chamber of Commerce. They spoke about Houston leading in startup ecosystems throughout the energy and medical sectors. The first day of the trade mission will end with a meeting with the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy to discuss energy, technology and trade between Houston and Paris. "As Houston works to lead the global transition to an energy-abundant, low-carbon future, the exchange of ideas and information with innovative cities around the world is critical," said Susan Davenport, Chief Economic Development Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership. "We are excited to lead a business delegation alongside the City of Houston that will get the opportunity to see first-hand what is happening in energy and innovation with organizations in Paris. As the leading export market in the U.S. and a major hub for foreign direct investment, international business is a significant and growing part of our economy, and we look forward to productive meetings that we hope will spur further investment and trade activity for our region."  Houston's Business Ties with France  Twenty-five Houston firms operate 46 subsidiary locations in France, including Baker Hughes, Hines, Huntsman, NOV, and Schlumberger. Sixty-three French firms operate 112 subsidiaries in the Houston area, including Air Liquide, Arkema, EDF Trading North America, Engie North America, and Total Petrochemicals & Refining. Trade and cultural relationships with France are facilitated in Houston through the Consulate General of France, the French American Chamber of Commerce, the French Trade Commission (UBIFRANCE), the French Alliance, and the Texan French Alliance for the Arts. Three of Houston's 16 foreign-owned banks are from France: Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Natixis, and Société Générale. Nice, France, was designated as one of Houston's 19 international sister cities in 1973, More than 3,100 people living in metro Houston were born in France. The delegation also has scheduled a tour of Interstellar Labs, a visit to Station F, the world's largest startup campus, a meeting with Total Energies, and will attend the opening of Rice University's first international campus, the Rice University Paris Center, with Rice President David Leebron and Provost Reginald DesRoches, who will become Rice's president in July. The  delegation includes City Council Member Karla Cisneros, Pierre Bang, President and CEO, Total Energies, Jean-Loup Chrétien, retired astronaut and Tietronix Vice President of Research and Development, Alex Condon, CEO, Galen Data and Scott Gale of Halliburton, among others. Learn more about Houston's international business ties.