Houston's carbon capture and storage plans 'reimagine what it means to be the energy capital of the world'

Houston's carbon capture and storage (CCS) plans have drawn attention from 11 companies who announced last week they would be collaborating on the hub in Houston.

The city currently has plans to go completely carbon neutral by 2050. They hope to be a leader in the green energy transition both in the United States and globally, according to Houston's climate action plan.

"Houston can achieve our net zero goals by working together, and it's exciting to see so many companies have already come together to talk about making Houston the world leader in carbon capture and storage," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a release from the Greater Houston Partnership.  

Of the 11 major energy organizations that have shown interest in collaborating on the city's CCS plans, big names include Chevron and ExxonMobil, the release states. 

"We're reimagining what it means to be the energy capital of the world, and applying proven technology to reduce emissions is one of the best ways to get started," Turner said. 

The goal out of Houston is to push for a "low-carbon" future, with the support of its 11 partners, the release states.

“We know a key component of this effort is expanding carbon capture and storage capabilities here in the U.S. and abroad,” Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey said in the release.

According to the release, the CCS process includes capturing carbon dioxide from industrial activity and injecting it into underground formation, rather than allowing it to be released into the atmosphere.

The partnering companies have agreed to begin discussions in what a collaborative effort might look like to go carbon neutral in Houston and eventually worldwide, the release states.

ExxonMobil revealed earlier this year that they plan to invest $100 billion in a CCS project in Texas.