Shaping the Future of Clean Energy & Water

About the Conference

On September 14, 2011 — the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Israel’s Economic Mission to the Southern Region are hosting a clean energy conference – the 2^nd Annual Texas-Israel Cleanovation Conference 2011.  This conference will feature innovative Israeli companies and high profile US national & Texas-based companies.

Companies Attending: Waste Management, Ernst & Young, CenterPoint Energy, IDE, McGuireWoods, GE Digital Energy, IBM, Chevron Energy Technology Company, Ein Netafim, Clear Results Consulting,  Mapal Green Energy, Amida, Alvarion, Gnrgy, Enverid, Environmental Energy Resources, DST, Nimrod Industries, Chromagen, Austin Technology Incubator, San Antonio Water System, El Paso Water Utilities, National Algae Association, Beemtech, Green Mountain Energy, The Dow Chemical Company, Waterfall Security Solutions, CDM, Resources Renewable,USA, and more..

Texas and Israel Come Together for Clean Energy

Israel is known for its leading advances in water technologies, energy efficiency, and smart grid technologies while Texas is renowned for being a leader in clean energy production.  The Texas-Israel connection began this summer when the Mayor of San Antonio, Julian Castro took a delegation to Israel on a fact-finding tour which resulted in him signing a memorandum of understanding with the Ein Netafim Eilat water utility to fuel cooperation between the two cities for mutual improvements of their wastewater and recycled-water systems.

Another Texas initiative is Fort Worth’s innovation in water re-use and reclamation.  The city’s treatment plant processes wastewater for re-use in watering its golf courses.  Each unit of reclaimable water costs about 40 percent less than conventional potable water.  This cost effective innovation and the current 10-month drought in Texas has prompted a flurry of calls to Fort Worth’s plant asking for reclaimed water.  Israel also has a reputation in water re-use and reclamation.  Relative to its small size, the country has devoted more resources to the development of wastewater treatment and reclamation than any other country in the world.

Water is not the only area where Texas and Israel shine.  Texas has the distinct competitive advantage of being able to draw on its history of being a global leader in the energy industry through its incredible access to technology, education, and financial resources.  Texas is uniquely blessed with abundant sunshine, wind, and open land, attributes that are perfect for generating renewable energy.  The state leads the nation in wind power generation.  In April 2010, Texas produced enough energy from wind to provide power to 2.3 million homes for a month.  Texas also has extensive undeveloped solar resources, which represent tremendous opportunities. For instance, CPS Energy continues to study the benefits of solar power as a renewable energy option, and the company is committed to bringing up to 100 megawatts of solar energy to San Antonio.  CPS Chief Sustainability Officer, Cris Eugster will speak at the Texas-Israel Cleanovation Conference.

Israel’s goal is to become a world leader in alternative energy, with its government devoting its support to cutting-edge technologies.  The push for clean technologies is necessary from the standpoint of economic opportunities, scarce natural resources, and an arid climate. The number of entrepreneurs entering the clean energy sector in Israel has grown tremendously.  Some of these start-ups in smart grid, solar, wind, water, energy management and electric vehicles are traveling to Texas for the Texas-Israel Cleanovation Conference to identify potential funding and business opportunities.

Pythagoras Solar, an Israel-based venture-backed company developing transparent, energy efficient windows that also generate solar power, announced that it has been chosen by Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, the tallest building the Western Hemisphere, to collaborate on a pilot project to help deliver on the building’s renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement goals.

Innovations in natural and renewable energies are playing a crucial role in helping to improve our global environment.  Texas and Israel have much to share as it relates to clean energy innovation.  The Texas-Israel Cleanovation 2011 Conference will serve as the nexus for the best and the brightest to come together to trade ideas, identify potential opportunities, and shape the future of clean energy and water.