Houston's Next Big Economy Sector (Commerce, China: credit, employment, stats)

[dv1033]

Originally Posted by Alphalogica

The solar PV & wind turbine manufacturers are going to win (of which I don't of a single one based in Houston).

You mean like Vestas establishing a research center in Houston? And what did Vestas say in choosing Houston?

"Houston provides access to a highly qualified workforce in an international and extremely energy-focused research and development environment,” says Finn Strøm Madsen, President of Vestas Technology R&D. “In addition, Houston will allow Vestas to establish and strengthen relations within the North American and global energy industry. Tapping into and contributing to the tremendous pool of knowledge and know-how offered by Houston’s energy environment is invaluable in our quest to develop wind turbines that also in the future can meet the technological and cost-efficiency demands of our customers.”

http://www.vestas.com/files//Filer/E...02-PMUK-06.pdf

[Alphalogica]

Originally Posted by dv1033

Just like a lot of the wind farms are being leased on private land in Texas, so can oil and nat gas drilling. In fact my family receives a check every month for gas drilling in Louisiana. Offshore is a whole different game but it's ignorant to say it is a key difference.

There is. I would imagine that more people are exposed to the sun and wind than have oil and gas on their property. The percentage of home/land owners earning O&G royalties is a very small minority (and the legal issues surrounding oil & gas mineral rights are extremely complex). Oil and gas drilling on individuals' property, though possible for some, is prohibitive for those who live in more dense developments. Most (80+%) of people on this forum clearly reside in Houston suburbs as well as inner-city developments (urban areas). How many people drill for oil and gas in their backyards in Sugar Land or Katy? Not many. It would be much easier to set up a home wind turbine or solar panels on one's roof in the 'burbs than set up an oil derrick. Jus' sayin'.

Yes, farmers are being paid a pretty penny to have wind turbines placed on their property. I'm not even talking about that though.

Once again, there are home wind turbines that one can set up in their backyard and solar panels a family can put on their roof. Currently, you need a lot of land (and considerable financial resources) to cost-effectively generate renewable energy, but keep in mind, that there will be a time when most people (i.e. individual home/property owners) will be able to take part. That will change the energy game.


As for Vestas intending to form a research center in Houston, I honestly wasn't aware of that, and it's great to see that they have a lot of nice things to say about Houston. However, even with Vestas forming a "research center" in Houston (they said nothing about moving to Houston, entirely), the transition is still FAR from complete.
l
That Vesta press release states that their research facility will be staffed by at least 100 employees, but when you scroll down to the bottom of the document you can see where they have set up far more jobs -- Colorado. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/...an-energy-hub/

[Wonderful Jellal]

Originally Posted by dv1033

you mean like vestas establishing a research center in houston? And what did vestas say in choosing houston?

"houston provides access to a highly qualified workforce in an international and extremely energy-focused research and development environment,” says finn strøm madsen, president of vestas technology r&d. “in addition, houston will allow vestas to establish and strengthen relations within the north american and global energy industry. Tapping into and contributing to the tremendous pool of knowledge and know-how offered by houston’s energy environment is invaluable in our quest to develop wind turbines that also in the future can meet the technological and cost-efficiency demands of our customers.”

http://www.vestas.com/files//filer/e...02-pmuk-06.pdf

+1

[Alphalogica]

A NY Times article contradicts that position.

Vestas Makes Colorado a Clean-Energy Hub - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

"According to Roby Roberts, a Vestas spokesman, Colorado held particular appeal for the company because of its central location, proximity to transit links, qualified workforce and a supportive regulatory regime. “Colorado is a natural fit for a wind energy company,” said Mr. Roberts.

Mr. Roberts says he also sees Colorado, which ranks eighth nationally in wind capacity, and has an estimated 122 gigawatts of potential in solar and wind energy, as a large potential market for renewables."

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is based in Golden, CO. http://nrel.gov

Point is, there are other places in the running to become the "Renewable Energy capital."

[Wonderful Jellal]

Originally Posted by Alphalogica

A NY Times article contradicts that position.

Vestas Makes Colorado a Clean-Energy Hub - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

"According to Roby Roberts, a Vestas spokesman, Colorado held particular appeal for the company because of its central location, proximity to transit links, qualified workforce and a supportive regulatory regime. “Colorado is a natural fit for a wind energy company,” said Mr. Roberts.

Mr. Roberts says he also sees Colorado, which ranks eighth nationally in wind capacity, and has an estimated 122 gigawatts of potential in solar and wind energy, as a large potential market for renewables."

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is based in Golden, CO. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Home Page

Point is, there are other places in the running to become the "Renewable Energy capital."

OK we understood, you hate Houston
What you say, many people said it 20 years ago...That never happened !
You're wrong ! You love New York Times' Greenblog ? Me too:

Houston has long been the country’s oil and gas capital, but some business executives say it is only a matter of time before it becomes a center for renewable energy as well.
That aspiration may be about to come one step closer.
The lead story in The Houston Chronicle on Thursday reports that NRG Energy, the big wholesale power generation company, may be delivering a considerable amount of solar energy to Houston as soon as next year.

Article here:
Houston a Hub for Renewable Energy? - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

Houston will be a giant for green energy.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Alphalogica

Not even close. Chevron and Exxon aren't based in Houston. Sure they have operations here, but they aren't headquarters' or "American divisions" seeing they are based elsewhere in the US.

Besides, I think I'm trying to establish that oil won't be around forever, which is in line with the OP's question. Oil companies? So what?

You know what I mean; 5 of the 6 supermajors maintain a large base here.

Considered to be the energy capital of the world, five of the six supermajor energy companies maintain a large base of operations in Houston (international headquarters of ConocoPhillips; US operational headquarters of Exxon-Mobil; US headquarters for international companies Shell Oil (US subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell located in London and The Hague, Netherlands), and BP whose international headquarters are in London, England).

http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/...ston_nickname/

[Alphalogica]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

You know what I mean; 5 of the 6 supermajors maintain a large base here.


The Big Apple: Energy Capital of the World (Houston nickname)

Again, that doesn't mean as much in this day in age, when most proven reserves worldwide (~90%) is held by state-owned oil companies.

http://www.economist.com/opinion/dis...ory_id=7276986

In the words of The Economist, "Yet Big Oil is pretty small next to the industry's true giants: the national oil companies (NOCs) owned or controlled by the governments of oil-rich countries, which manage over 90% of the world's oil, depending on how you count."

The Wall Street Journal ran a similar piece less than a month ago--

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...875590852.html


Proof that Houston's status of housing the supermajors isn't necessarily an indication of energy dominance. Also, this is why I feel "the Energy Capital of the World" title is out-of-date at best and an exaggeration at worst.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Alphalogica

Again, that doesn't mean as much in this day in age, when most proven reserves worldwide (90%) is held by state-owned oil companies.

National oil companies: Really Big Oil | The Economist

In the words of The Economist, "Yet Big Oil is pretty small next to the industry's true giants: the national oil companies (NOCs) owned or controlled by the governments of oil-rich countries, which manage over 90% of the world's oil, depending on how you count."

It goes beyond just that though; one of the world's largest producers of petrochemicals, home to 13 of the nation's 20 largest natural gas transmission companies, accounts for 30% of all US jobs in oil and gas extractions, more than 170 pipelines and more.

It's a simple nickname, but Houston the nickname isn't completely exaggerated.

[Alphalogica]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

It goes beyond just that though; one of the world's largest producers of petrochemicals, home to 13 of the nation's 20 largest natural gas transmission companies, accounts for 30% of all US jobs in oil and gas extractions, more than 170 pipelines and more.

It's a simple nickname, but Houston the nickname isn't completely exaggerated.

Okay, now you're just starting to sound like a Chamber of Commerce brochure. I've proven that housing 5 of 6 supermajors doesn't mean ---t when looking at the oil industry globally. Now you're talking about natural gas and Houston's dominance on the national level. How about some stats on how Houston compares globally in that regard? It's "energy capital of the US", maybe, but the world? Give me a greak!

And Houston being dominant in natural gas doesn't have anything to do with Houston's relationship with renewable energy.

[Alphalogica]

Energy industry talk aside, I stand by initial post on this thread https://www.city-data.com/forum/14466304-post31.html in response to the OP. Technology is changing rapidly and that will lead to immense changes on the concept of "work" entirely.

For instance, when an engineer can complete at task at home and send it in to his/her employer, individuals/corporations are no longer tied down to physical locations.