26/03/2024
"I’m in Texas to see the future of energy"
You may not be surprised to read that Texas is the biggest producer of oil and gas in America. But did you know the Lone Star State is also the biggest producer of wind power in the country—and a rising star in solar? That’s right: Texas is more than a hub of traditional energy production. It’s at the cutting edge of next-generation clean energy innovation, too.
So I’m in Texas this week to visit some amazing companies doing innovative work across the state. One is working on clean fuels for trucks, ships, and even planes. Another is developing a clever technique for turning captured carbon into one of the key components in carbon fiber. A third is investing in a facility for direct air capture, a process that removes carbon from the atmosphere after it’s been emitted. Each project represents a huge boon for the local economy, America’s energy security, and the fight against climate change.
I think Texas has a lot to teach us about how to build a low-carbon future that is reliable, affordable, and resilient. I can’t wait to see some of the breakthroughs being worked on here up close. I'm also excited to catch up with some of the visionary entrepreneurs who are driving Texas’s clean energy economy, including leaders from many Breakthrough Energy–supported companies based in the area.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that’s certainly true of the enormous role the state is playing in the country’s clean energy transition. You can read more about my trip—and why Breakthrough Energy and I have invested $130 million in Texas-based entrepreneurs, institutions, and projects—.
Thanks for being an Insider.
-Bill Gates
