Texas is already a leader in wind energy, producing more than any other state thanks to the gusty winds of West Texas and the decision to build transmission lines to move that power to the state’s urban areas.
But while offshore wind turbines have generated power in Europe for several decades, they have been slow to proliferate elsewhere. Offshore turbines are generally considered more efficient than onshore wind turbines because wind speed and direction is more consistent offshore.
A panel of experts will debate the future of wind power in the Gulf of Mexico at the University of Houston on Thursday. “Offshore Wind: Will it Happen in Texas?” begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the UH Student Center South. It is free and open to the public but registration is requested. For more information and to register, go here.
Speakers include:
- James Bennett, chief of renewable energy programs at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- John Hartnett, business opportunity manager for US Offshore Wind at Shell Wind Energy
- Michael J. Osborne, co-founder of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Alliance and delegate to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference
- Deniz Ekici, marine operations manager for Equinor
WHAT: Symposium on the future of offshore wind in Texas
WHEN: 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28. Reception follows.
WHERE: University of Houston Student Center South. Parking in the Welcome Center Garage. Map.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeannie Kever, 713-743-0778, jekever@uh.edu