Sustainable and affordable energy is integral to Texas’ and the entire country’s economic growth. Texas, long known as a leader in the energy sector, will be even more relied upon in the coming years and decades as it holds about 25 percent and 33 percent of the nation’s oil and natural gas reserves, respectively. Texas also maintains 25 percent of the nation’s refining capacity. The energy industry plays a key role in the Texas economy, employing nearly 375,000 people who earned more than $35 billion in total wages in 2006.

Discovering and development traditional and renewable energy resources is paramount to the future of the energy industry in Texas and abroad. Texas has the intellectual and technical expertise to being an innovative leader and growth generator in several renewable energy sources ranging from solar and wind to geothermal and biofuels technology.