CCS Alliance 2024 Year-in-Review
In 2024, the Houston CCS Alliance had an exceptional year, hosting over 50 events that provided opportunities to connect with our communities, launching an interactive educational platform, and being featured as an example of exceptional community engagement in the Department of Commerce’s CCS Handbook for Policymakers. We focused on raising awareness about Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, highlighting its safety benefits, and emphasizing the positive economic impact that CCS projects will bring to Houston and the Gulf Coast.
Throughout the year, we partnered with local community organizations in Jefferson County, Baytown, Galena Park, and Pasadena to bring together local officials, business leaders, and community members. These events focused on educating attendees about CCS and raising awareness of the positive economic and environmental impacts it could have on their communities.
In March, we had the opportunity to connect with students during Deer Park’s annual Chemistry Day, where we unveiled CarbonQuest, an interactive educational platform that teaches kids about CO2 emissions and the power of CCS through lessons, quizzes, and games. The game was a big hit and has provided a powerful tool for parents and educators alike to encourage STEM education.
Later in the spring, Alliance representatives participated in the US Department of Commerce’s Houston fly-in. During this multi-day event, Alliance members met with international leaders and participated in a panel showcasing CCS investment in the Gulf Coast region, drawing attention to the pivotal role Houston will play in making large-scale CCS development a reality around the world. The Alliance was also featured in the Dept. of Commerce’s CCS Handbook for Policymakers as a global model for community-minded CCS development, putting our work in Houston on a national stage.
Over the summer, the Alliance presented at a series of roundtables throughout the Greater Houston area. In addition to meeting with the Baytown Lions Club and the Baytown Chamber of Commerce, we participated in a roundtable hosted by Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie. During the meeting, Mayor Bartie expressed his support for the Alliance and the renewed investment CCS will bring to the Golden Triangle area.
In the fall, we had the opportunity to give back to the community through a tree giveaway event in Galena Park, a diverse community where over 80% of residents speak a language other than English at home. In collaboration with our partners, Precinct2gether and the Galena Park/Jacinto City Rotary Club, we gave away over 500 trees to residents who were eager to replace those lost during the derecho and Hurricane Beryl. During the event, we engaged with the community in English and Spanish to discuss the significant economic and environmental benefits of CCS for our region. The residents were excited to learn more about the positive impact CCS will have on their community and quality of life along the Ship Channel.
Over the course of 2024, the Alliance also bolstered its resources page with 3 new informational fact sheets, highlighting topics like Class VI primacy, the safety behind CCS technology, and our Spring 2024 public opinion survey, as well as 23 new blog posts and event recaps. These materials provide a deeper understanding of why CCS is important to Texans and encourage greater community participation. All of these resources are available in both English and Spanish.
As we look to 2025 and the Texas legislative session, we’re excited about the opportunities on the horizon and look forward to continuing our efforts to advance CCS development across the Gulf Coast.
