Texas has approved $1.8 billion for a new microgrid program to boost backup power at critical sites such as hospitals, water systems, and emergency services. The Texas Backup Power Package Program will deploy on-site systems combining solar, batteries, and gas generation, offering a faster, more flexible alternative to large-scale plants. As traditional grid projects face delays, this marks a strategic shift toward distributed resilience amid rising demand and increasingly frequent extreme weather.

The 2025 TIEEP Spring Energy Forum, held on May 8 at the UH Tech Bridge, brought together industry leaders to spotlight practical innovations in industrial energy efficiency. Hosted by the Texas Industrial Energy Efficiency Program in partnership with UH Energy and SECO, the forum featured expert presentations on low-capital energy assessments, high-efficiency steam systems, and cutting-edge digital monitoring tools. From simple operational improvements to AI-powered diagnostics, the event emphasized scalable strategies to reduce costs, cut emissions, and boost performance across the oil refining and chemical sectors.

This article covers the keynote address delivered by Torkel Rhenman, Executive Vice President of Advanced Polymer Solutions at LyondellBasell, at the 2025 UH Energy Symposium on Plastics Circularity. The story highlights Rhenman’s insights on advancing a circular economy for plastics, addressing industry challenges, innovations like MoReTec chemical recycling, and the role of policy, infrastructure, and collaboration in shaping a sustainable future.