Q3 Fall Alliance Connect
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. Over the past few months, we have engaged with people across the Gulf Coast, from Beaumont to Corpus Christi, about the economic and environmental opportunities of expanding carbon capture and storage in Texas. You’ll also learn more about a coalition of leading Texas organizations that recently expressed their support for state permitting of carbon storage wells.
In this edition, we’re reflecting on all our activities throughout the end of summer and early fall. From our constant presence at community events to our ongoing engagements with local leaders, the CCS Alliance is delivering on our mission of advancing CCS across Houston and our surrounding communities.
32 Organizations Sign Letter to EPA Requesting Class VI Well Primacy for Texas
On October 7, the Houston CCS Alliance and 32 leading organizations from across Texas submitted a jointly signed letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting it grant Texas’ two-year-old application for oversight of carbon dioxide storage wells, in a process known as Class VI well primacy. The agencies include the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Association of Manufacturers, the Dallas Regional Chamber, the Texas Conservation Alliance, the Greater Houston Partnership and the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce.
The growing investment in CCS has created a severe backlog of permitting requests that can take the EPA as long as five years to review, whereas state oversight by the Texas Railroad Commission, which has local resources and knowledge, can often move projects forward in a year or less using the same federal safety and environmental guidelines. In a recent blog, we dive into why primacy is an essential milestone in expanding CCS in the Lone Star State and remaining competitive with other states.
Statements from Local Leaders, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Show Growing Support for Expanding CCS
Three prominent Houston leaders are among the growing network of community members expressing their support for expanding carbon capture and storage as an opportunity to grow our economy, improve our environment and remain a global energy leader.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire, District 143 State Representative Ana Hernandez, and East End Chamber President Frances Castaneda Dyess have joined other prominent voices throughout greater Houston in echoing why carbon capture and storage is one of the best tools available for our region to improve our environment, maintain jobs and remain the Energy Capital of the World.
The Texas Association of Business Delivers New Study Showcasing Transformative Economics Benefits from CCS
As CCS continues to grow, what will it mean for Texas families? The Texas Association of Business is answering that question through a new economic impact study showing transformative job creation and economic benefits stemming from the expansion of CCS in Texas. The study examined the outcomes of four different CCS project scenarios in 12 counties across South and Southeast Texas, including Chambers, Jefferson, San Patricio, and Nueces counties.
Among its key findings, the study found that the CCS projects studied could create or support approximately 7,500 full-time jobs, with an average hourly wage of $45, providing good-paying jobs that can lift up communities. Texas’ economy could see an average investment of $1.8 billion, with impacts to individual counties ranging from $317 million to $3.7 billion.
The study also found that, across Texas, local tax revenues from construction and operations could increase by $33.4 million—an average of $131,000 in each of Texas’ 254 counties that could be invested in equipment for first responders, improvements to parks and libraries and other essential local services.
Check out our recent blog on how these findings spotlight the bright economic future that could come from advancing CCS in Texas.
Making Connections in Port Arthur with Mayor Thurman Bartie
Jefferson County could become one of the nation’s most important hubs for carbon capture and storage. Partnering with Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie, the Houston CCS Alliance hosted an engaging community roundtable with community members to discuss how this growth in CCS could benefit the Golden Triangle region and why Class VI primacy is an important milestone in expanding the adoption of CCS in the area.
Mayor Bartie expressed his strong support for CCS technology and emphasized the positive impact it would have on the Port Arthur region. Representatives from ExxonMobil and Chevron emphasized their company’s commitments to ensuring CCS is adopted safely and that communities have a seat at the table as this important technology is adopted across the region.
In case you missed it, read why carbon capture and storage is the “best of both worlds” in the Port Arthur News.
Gulf Coast Industries Remain Strong, Poised for a Bright Future
The Economic Alliance Port Houston’s annual Gulf Coast Industry Forum in Pasadena is a must-attend event for insights on the state of Port Houston, and this year was no exception. The Houston CCS Alliance was part of this important conversation with local elected officials, organizations, leaders, and Pasadena-area residents about emerging technologies, like carbon capture and storage, and other issues that continue to make the Port of Houston a key driver of Texas’ economy.
Raising Awareness of CCS in the Coastal Bend Region
Like other Gulf Coast communities, the Coastal Bend region is an emerging hub for carbon capture and storage. The Alliance had the opportunity to share our experiences in community engagement at the Economic Trends Virtual Roundtable hosted by the Corpus Christi Regional EDC, San Patricio County EDC, and Chambers from Corpus Christi, Portland and Ingleside. The Alliance joined representatives from ExxonMobil, Repsol and the Port of Corpus Christi to discuss the role CCS can play in boosting the Corpus Christi economy and the importance of working across regions to build momentum for Class VI well primacy.
Baytown Lions Pose Astute Questions, Prompt Insightful Discussion during Roundtable Event
The Alliance had the pleasure of joining members of the Baytown Lions Club to talk about the growth of carbon capture and storage in their community. With major investments by ExxonMobil, Calpine, and Chevron coming to Baytown and Chambers County, it is important to hear from groups like the Lions Club and other community members.
The State of Precinct 2 is Strong, Prepared for the Future
This summer, the Alliance had the opportunity to join over 700 community members at Harris County Precinct 2’s State of the Precinct luncheon in Baytown, hosted by Chambers from Deer Park, Pasadena, LaPorte-Bayshore Clear Lake, and South Belt-Ellington. By engaging with communities across the Houston Ship Channel region, we can foster greater collaboration, raise awareness, and come together around common-sense ideas to expand carbon capture and storage in our region.
Houston CCS Alliance Sets Students Up for Success at Pasadena ISD’s Fill the Bus Initiative
To start the school year, the Houston CCS Alliance and Calpine representative Cathryn Martinez joined Pasadena Mayor Jeff Wagner to support teachers and families through Pasadena ISD Foundation’s Fill the Bus event. Through donations from the Houston CCS Alliance and other essential community partners, Pasadena ISD students will have the materials they need for a successful school year.
To realize our opportunity to bring essential energy technologies like carbon capture and storage to scale, students in Pasadena and across the region will need to be well prepared, especially in STEM fields like science and engineering. The Houston CCS Alliance is invested in ensuring that all of our students have a bright future.
CarbonQuest: A New Era of STEM Learning has Arrived
Carbon capture and storage isn’t just for adults—it’s for kids, too! CarbonQuest is a new interactive STEM learning experience available on our website that introduces kids to carbon dioxide, its impact on our communities, and the role each of us plays in reducing our carbon footprint. Created by an award-winning creative team and vetted by veteran educators, CarbonQuest provides lessons, worksheets, active assessments, and mini games to help kids explore the world of STEM. Start learning with CarbonQuest here!
In the News
Have you heard the news? CCS 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.
Exxon secures over 271,000 acres in Texas waters for offshore CO2 capture – Reuters
ExxonMobil has acquired state leases for over 271,000 acres in Texas state waters for an offshore carbon capture operation.
Texas Opens More Coastal Waters for Carbon Storage Wells – Texas Tribune
Texas has opened more than a million acres of offshore, state-owned waters for proposals from companies to inject greenhouse gas underground for permanent disposal as a means to mitigate climate change.
Calpine and US Department of Energy Advance Grant Process for Baytown CCS Project – Department of Energy
Calpine and the Department of Energy are progressing on their Baytown project partnership following OCED’s $12.5 million award.
Why Carbon Capture and Storage is a Win for Jefferson County – The Beaumont Enterprise
In a recent op-ed in the Beaumont Enterprise, Lamar University professor Dr. Tracy Benson explains some of the safeguards that make CCS a proven technology for the gulf coast.
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 email with your contacts and sign up here.
