Houston to Become Home to the Nation’s Largest Urban Solar Farm

Leading the nation in both solar generation and wind capacity, it is undeniable that Texas has become the epicenter for renewable energy. As the Energy Capital of the World, Houston has been at the forefront of the state’s success, consistently winning bids for major projects. According to the Partnership’s Houston Facts report, the region’s renewable energy industry accounted for nearly 13,000 jobs in 2022. To bolster growth in this sector and enhance Houston’s leadership in the global energy transition, the Greater Houston Partnership is actively working to attract renewable energy companies to the region, facilitating relocation and expansion projects. According to a Partnership analysis, the organization saw a 400% increase in the number of energy transition projects it won between 2018 and 2023. The Partnership has recently assisted in several significant project wins for the region, including Renewable Parts, a wind turbine supply chain and refurbishment company. The company announced it selected Humble for the location of its new parts recirculation workshop to meet the growing demand in the North American market. The new facility is expected to create at least 18 jobs with $700,000 in capital expenditures. "Being close to Houston was important for us as a business, as Texas has a thriving wind industry and an abundance of turbines that we have vast experience on," said Michael Forbes, Renewable Parts US President, "and Houston is widely considered the Energy Capital of the World - a great opportunity for us to find good people and collaborate with some of the many great businesses that are located there." Renewable Parts is one of many international companies that have chosen to expand to the Houston suburbs, attracted by the ample space for large-scale facilities and the close proximity to Houston's major transportation hubs, including the Port of Houston and the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. "Renewable Parts' decision to establish their North American operations in Humble, Texas, is further testament to the Houston region's strong infrastructure, skilled workforce and unmatched industry expertise,” said Craig Rhodes, SVP Economic Development, Greater Houston Partnership. “This new facility will bolster the local economy and help drive the advancement of renewable energy in North America." Triveni Turbines, an Indian company that manufactures, assembles and repairs rotating equipment for power generation was another major win for the Partnership last month. The company recently signed a lease for a 38,000 square feet office and manufacturing space in northwest Houston off FM 529. The facility will create 40 jobs and have the potential for further expansion in three to five years. Additionally, Imperial Star Solar, a solar manufacturer with operations in Asia and Cambodia, will open its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Tomball at the Interchange 249 business park. According to the Houston Business Journal, the 384,500 square foot facility is expected to produce 1.5 gigawatts of solar panels annually and increase U.S. capacity to 5 gigawatts by 2025. The company also plans to strengthen the region’s manufacturing and technology workforce by partnering with local universities and colleges to offer an internship program. Learn more about Houston’s leadership in Renewable Energy.