Global Energy Watch: How the Lone Star State is leading the future of clean energy in the U.S

The Lone Star State leads the U.S. in energy production, providing nearly a quarter of the energy produced nationally. Texas is the second largest US state by total land area, behind Alaska, and is blessed with abundant oil, gas and coal resources.

The Eagle Ford shale and the Permian Basin are the state’s latest poster child for the energy sector.

But as the world adds more low-carbon energy sources to curb the harmful effects of climate change, Texas will also play a leading role.

According to the Energy Information Administration, Texas leads the United States in wind-generated electricity and is among the leading states in solar energy potential and generation. Texas also has geothermal resources, uranium, rare earth elements and other critical minerals.

Breakthrough Energy and TerraPower founder Bill Gates, the same mind behind Microsoft, sees irony in the surge in renewable energy in a state known for oil and gas.

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Texas has a booming direct air capture (DAC) industry and growing economic opportunities due to its large land area and significant potential for low-carbon energy and storage resources. According to Rhodium Group, Texas is projected to lead in DAC deployments and job growth opportunities between 2035 and 2050.

Whether it’s population size or a hydrocarbon-dominated economic landscape, renewable energy companies find Texas equally attractive. Whether it’s due to the abundance of sunny days, windy conditions on the Gulf Coast, or the abundance of hydrocarbon infrastructure, Texas has a lot to offer.

And renewable energies are not without their hurdles – cost and their intermittent nature are still bridges to cross. And Uri, Texas’s winter freeze froze not only gas installations, but also wind turbines. If anything, this is an example of the reliability of some renewable resources in extreme weather conditions.

But one thing is for sure, Texas is truly the energy state mentioned above.

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