Houston Energy & Climate Week
This year's theme, We Do Hard Things highlights the resilience of Houston, especially in uncertain times.
For years, I have been trying to break through The Big Green Wall of Sustainability and to be of some service in the Energy Transition. Thanks so much to the organizers at Allies in Energy for allowing Alphachimp to play a small role in sharing the stories and ideas
The energy transition is a marathon and team sport that needs unified action.
The inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Week tackled the challenges of the energy transition head-on.
The regional, weeklong series of 75+ events and meetups emphasized fostering an inclusive energy landscape by embracing innovation and sustainability while addressing social disparities. Houston’s commitment to collaboration and proactive leadership positioned it as a frontrunner in energy solutions.
“Achieving Energy 2.0+ is a marathon. However, this race needs an increased pace. We will get there through urgency, teamwork, consistency, continued investment, and collaboration. We also commit ourselves to assessing our collective advancements and setbacks in achieving these goals.”
—excerpt from the Unity Commitment
Sociologist professor Stephen Klineberg says: “The story of Houston is that we are there first.”
According to the 2024 Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey, around three-quarters of residents—particularly younger generations—supported prioritizing renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydrogen.
Despite this optimism, participants remained mindful of the potential challenges that rapid energy transitions could pose to supply stability.
The opening ceremonies focused on the costs, impacts, policies, and community needs involved in Houston’s transition to renewable energy.
Opening Ceremony
The Pragmatic Realities of a Lower Carbon Future
Transitioning to a low-carbon future hinges on advancing technologies, effective policies, and environmental justice.
Panelists:
Linda Lorelle - Emmy Award Winning Journalist Civil Dialogues & Lorelle Media
Jean Becker - Former Chief of Staff - George H.W. Bush
Co-Founder, Civil Dialogues & NY Times Best Selling Author
Pat Wood - CEO of Hunt Energy and Former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas
Karl Pettersen - President, Pettersen Consulting
Juliana Garaizar - Founding Partner, Energy Tech Nexus and Co-Chair, Houston Energy & Climate Week
Theo Wilson - Actor, Executive Director of Shop Talk Live, Host of The History Channel's 'I Was
Key innovations include carbon capture, hydrogen, renewable energy, and transportation electrification, which are crucial in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Policies facilitate this shift by providing incentives and regulations and supporting infrastructure and research to ensure compliance with climate goals.
Resiliency - Building for Now and the Future
How does Houston build for the future? To ensure a resilient Houston, we must prioritize infrastructure that mitigates flooding risks and enhances the quality of life while investing in sustainability.
Addressing climate change requires immediate actions and long-term strategies to prepare our community. This discussion will highlight the importance of developing a skilled workforce with energy literacy and effective communication to engage the public in resilience planning. By focusing on intelligent infrastructure and risk reduction, Houston can innovate solutions that protect citizens and foster a sustainable energy landscape for future generations, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for all residents.
Katie Mehnert - Chief Executive Officer, ALLY Energy and Co-Chair, Houston Energy & Climate Week
Angela Blanchard - Chief Recovery and Resilience Officer, City of Houston
Jim Keyes - Former Chief Executive Officer, Blockbuster and 7-Eleven
Kelly A. Burks-Copes, PhD - Chief, Program Support Branch, Mega Project Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District
Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti - Vice President of Energy and Innovation, University of Houston
The Future of Houston’s Leadership on Energy Policy
This engaging discussion explored the rich history and promising future of Houston's leadership in energy policy, how Houston has shaped and continues to influence the national and global energy landscape, and what the next half of the decade might look like.
We explored the recent National Petroleum Council study on America's hydrogen strategy and discussed the critical role of federal, state, and local partnerships, innovation, and collaboration in driving sustainable energy solutions. Panelists include:
Kyle Wiley - Co-Founder, Connector, Inc.
Darin Rice - General Manager, Hydrogen Strategy & Market Insights, Chevron New Energies
Maxine Pitter Lunn, Ph.D. - Public Diplomacy Team Lead, U.S. Department of State
Stan Kitzman - State Representative for Texas House District 85.
Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremony on Friday the 13th marked the end of the inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Week.
It fostered greater collaboration across various sectors, including education, entrepreneurship, industry, ecology, the arts, science, sports, and entertainment.
Houston, historically recognized for its investment in oil and gas after World War II and the Great Depression, is now making bold investments in the energy transition.
The theme We Do Hard Things encouraged participants to reflect on overcoming the fear of failure and taking risks.
Lessons on Hard Things: The Collapse of Blockbuster
James Keyes, former CEO of Blockbuster and 7-Eleven, shared his experiences in tackling tough challenges and discovering unexpected opportunities for sustainable success.
He emphasized the importance of investing in education and its broader societal impact.
And in times of change, it is essential to reframe feelings of fear into energy for transformation.
In This Together America: Reimagining The New Energy Future
This inspiring wrap-up session featured special guests from NYC Climate Week, The Texas Medical Center, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Houston energy innovation ecosystem.
The interactive discussion explored how diverse stakeholders collaborate to create a sustainable energy future for all Americans.
The panel dove into innovative solutions, shared success stories, and highlighted the collective efforts necessary to address the pressing challenges of the energy transition.
Lifelong climate activist Bill Shireman, president of In This Together America, moderated the panel, which featured:
Trevor Best - Chief Executive Officer, Syzygy Plasmonics
Adam Lake - Head of Engagement North America, The Climate Group / NYC Climate Week
Elizabeth Carlson - Chief Sustainability Officer, Tricon Energy and Chair, Sustainability, Houston 2026 World Cup
Jason Fischer, MBA - Director, Officer of Sustainability, Houston Methodist Hospital
A special thanks went to Fernando Moguel for his last-minute performance of the new HECW Anthem, delivered with less than 24 hours’ notice!
And, of course, praise to the power team of Katie Mehnert, Juliana Garaizar, Lindsay Roe, and all of the sponsors, hosts, and volunteers who pulled off 75+ events across the region.
The organizers are already looking forward to building on this momentum in 2025 with the theme of UNSTOPPABLE.
When planning Houston Energy and Climate Week, the organizers stressed their desire to cultivate a spirit of inclusion.
The event was co-created by many individuals, reinforcing the idea that UNITY is central to COMMUNITY. They also aimed to reshape the narrative of Houston.
And they succeeded.
They showed the world what resilience and determination look like.
But this is only the beginning—the storytelling continues, and everyone has a role to play. Houston’s oil and gas industry will remain a critical part of the solution to the global challenges of climate change.
The path ahead won’t be easy, but progress will come through collaboration. Moving forward requires leaving the past behind and embracing the future with intentional design and systems evolution.
Success will depend on recognizing the importance of all players in the system and forging strong connections between them.
Learn more at climateweekhouston.com
