Q1 Newsletter
Welcome to the latest issue of Alliance Connect, a newsletter keeping you up to date on the latest news and happenings from the Houston CCS Alliance. In this edition, we’ll highlight our first few months of 2024 and look ahead to several upcoming events as we advance the development of carbon capture and storage in our communities during this pivotal year.
The Houston CCS Alliance Receives Award from County Commissioner Adrian Garcia for Community Service and Engagement
The Houston CCS Alliance received an award from Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia in January recognizing our contributions to community service through our tree planting and park improvement project in Pasadena during Texas Arbor Day last year. More than 50 volunteers representing many of our member companies came together to plant 400 new trees at Partnership Park. The event received media attention from local outlets including Univision and La Prensa.
Commissioner Garcia commended us for our dedication to community improvement and energy innovation, emphasizing the restorative impact of the initiative after a devastating tornado impacted the community earlier in the year.
This award not only acknowledges the Houston CCS Alliance’s exceptional energy and environmental achievements, but it also reinforces our pivotal role in driving positive change and fostering sustainable development in Houston communities. By actively engaging in initiatives that promote environmental and community resilience, the Houston CCS Alliance exemplifies its commitment to creating a better, more sustainable future for all.
Building Tomorrow’s Low-Carbon Workforce and Engaging Leaders at Deer Park Chemistry Day
Last week, the Houston CCS Alliance attended the Deer Park Chamber’s Chemistry Day where we engaged with over 100 area high school students and 200 community leaders about carbon capture and storage and why this technology, utilizing advanced chemical processes, is crucial to helping Texas meet its emission goals. Innovations developed by leading energy and chemical companies over more than 50 years have made carbon capture and storage a safe, proven technology for reducing emissions and expanding economic development. As the workforce of tomorrow, the students attending gained practical insights into how STEM concepts from the classroom are being applied to lower emissions in their community and were exposed to an emerging career sector that will continue to produce in-demand opportunities right here on the gulf coast.
We enjoyed partnering with the Deer Park Chamber for this important conversation alongside member companies Dow, Calpine, LyondellBasell, and Shell.
We look forward to being a part of Chemistry Day again next year and continuing to build our relationship with the Deer Park community!
Harris County Mayors and Councils Association: Building New Partnerships with our Local Elected Officials
The Houston CCS Alliance presented to the Houston Mayors and Councils Association in February, which brings together local officials from communities surrounding Houston to discuss regionally significant topics. Since each community in our region is a vital stakeholder, building awareness and strengthening relationships among local elected leaders about the importance of carbon capture to the Gulf Coast region is an essential step in advancing this technology across our state.
Scott Whitmire, Director of Chevron’s Bayou Bend project provided an overview of a specific example of how CCS is being deployed in our region and the opportunity for it to become an economic engine that drives lower emissions and economic growth in greater Houston and the Golden Triangle.
The Mayors and Councils Association was very welcoming and we are excited about future collaborations to educate local elected officials on why carbon capture and storage is critical to maintaining Houston’s energy leadership and boosting our local economies.
State of the City: Pasadena’s Future is Bright
In February, the Houston CCS Alliance joined over 900 community leaders at Pasadena’s State of the City, where we talked with attendees about the importance of carbon capture and storage and heard from Mayor Jeff Wagner, a supporter of expanding CCS technology in our region. We are excited to continue working with Mayor Wagner, city leaders, and the Pasadena community this year to raise awareness about CCS and how this essential technology can make our low-carbon energy goals a reality.
International Women’s Day: Our Region’s Low-Carbon Future Propelled Forward by Women in the Energy Industry
In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the CCS Alliance spotlighted Zoe Cadore, one of the incredible women within our member companies building the future of energy in Texas and across the country. A native Houstonian, Ms. Cadore grew up surrounded by the energy industry, and now plays an active role in making it more sustainable as the Head of Federal Affairs at Calpine. In a recent blog featured on our website, Ms. Cadore shared insights about her career, why CCS can make a difference in our region, and her advice for women in the energy industry.
Click here to read the full story on Ms. Cadore. The blog is also available in Spanish in the Noticias sections of the Houston CCS Alliance website.
Clean Air Task Force Study Finds Carbon Capture Significantly Improves Air Quality
After a pioneering study by the Great Plains Institute last year demonstrated carbon capture and storage’s ability to improve air quality and related health outcomes, the Clean Air Task Force recently published a report further reinforcing the benefits of CCS.
Among its key findings, the study found that installing carbon capture systems at large industrial facilities like refineries and cement plants can reduce conventional air pollutant emissions, including SO2, NOx, and particulate matter. These reductions resulted in quantifiable health benefits ranging from $400 million to almost $1 billion.
This study demonstrates that adopting carbon capture and storage technology in greater Houston can improve quality of live and helps bring greater awareness to the impact this technology can have in making our community healthier and stronger.
Click here to read our synopsis of the full report, spotlighting the study’s key findings and takeaways.
Subscribe to our Channel in WhatsApp
The Houston CCS Alliance is expanding its social media footprint by adding WhatsApp! The Alliance’s new WhatsApp channel, designed to establish direct connections with supporters across the state, will help us build and better communicate with Spanish speakers.
WhatsApp is the largest messaging app in the world and is widely used in the US, boasting a significant user base among Hispanic and Latino audiences. By meeting supporters where they consume information, the Houston CCS Alliance underscores its dedication to engaging with diverse audiences and driving meaningful conversations surrounding carbon capture and environmental sustainability.
Through this channel, the Houston CCS Alliance aims to provide updates, news, promotions, and pertinent information directly to subscribers, fostering convenient communication and interaction.
Subscribe to the Houston CCS Alliance WhatsApp channel so you don’t miss out on informative articles, educational videos, and visually appealing infographics about CCS technology, as well as Q&A sessions with users.
Follow us on Instagram
Instagram provides an ideal space for showcasing diverse photo and video content related to CCS and industry updates, including industry leader spotlights, CCS updates, event highlights, fun facts, and informative animated videos. This varied content not only keeps followers informed, but also encourages interaction.
By consistently delivering compelling content in both Spanish and English across platforms, the Houston CCS Alliance is a go-to source for information about carbon capture and storage and its importance to Texas. On Instagram you’ll find can’t-miss updates about upcoming events in the region, testimonials from prominent voices in the energy sector, and educational materials to empower followers with valuable information.
Follow us @houstonccsalliance
In the News
Have you heard the news? Carbon capture and storage activity among our Houston CCS Alliance member companies is quickly gaining momentum. In case you missed it, find some of the latest news headlines below.
The carbon storage race is underway in East Texas as Big Oil looks to cash in on climate incentives – Houston Chronicle
Oil rigs are drilling a new type of well in East Texas, where carbon dioxide pipelines, top-tier geology, and a slew of industrial emissions are kicking off a race to cash in on climate change-fueled incentives.
ICYMI: View the slides from the Dept. of Energy’s January 10 virtual public hearing on Calpine’s $270 million award to expand CCS at their Baytown Energy Center – US Dept. of Energy
The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) at DOE recently announced the selection of three Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects, including Calpine’s facility in Baytown, Texas.
Interested in reading more news from the Houston CCS Alliance? Click here to visit our Newsroom.
The Houston CCS Alliance is a coordinated effort among some of the world’s most innovative energy, petrochemical, and power generation companies to advance the development of carbon capture and storage in the greater Houston industrial area. Members include: BASF, Calpine, Channelview Cogeneration, Chevron, DOW, ExxonMobil, INEOS, Linde, LyondellBasell, Phillips 66, and Shell. Interested in staying up-to-date with the Houston CCS Alliance? Share this post with your contacts and sign up here.
