Texas
Texas Is Primed To Be Our Nation’s Direct Air Capture Hub
Emily Pickrell, UH Vitality Scholar
Proper now, a lot of the local weather change dialog is targeted on decreasing future emissions.
Whereas that’s important, it represents solely a part of the answer. Some industrial processes – metal, cement and aviation – will show difficult to decarbonize. Having a option to take away this carbon will probably be a part of the answer.
Rising direct air seize know-how is able to deal with that problem. It’s a know-how that local weather activists, the U.S. authorities and the power trade all agree is important to sort out hard-to-abate distributed emissions.
The know-how’s future has simply had an enormous enhance – the Inflation Discount Act. The laws consists of beneficiant help for direct air seize amenities. And the training by doing that these amenities will allow will enhance the economics of initiatives into the longer term.
These incentives complement the 2020 infrastructure laws, which included $3.5 billion for 4 regional direct air seize hubs. The aim of such a hub is to encourage the colocation of complementary infrastructure. To be eligible for presidency funding, any proposed hub web site should reveal that it’s going to ultimately be able to capturing no less than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly.
Due to connected funding, many states are making proposals for why their location is sensible, speaking up regional financial improvement wants and different elements to argue their case.
But Texas has a way more compelling and distinctive story: it may well make direct air seize economically possible, with prospects keen to pay for the carbon seize, and in doing so, financing the costly know-how.
That is vital, as a result of the excessive value of direct air seize has been one of many greatest limitations to adoption. Proper now, utilizing direct air seize is estimated to value roughly $500 per ton, in accordance with knowledge offered by the College of Houston. These prices might go all the way down to $300 per ton within the coming years, when the know-how turns into extra environment friendly.
Creating hubs the place these prices could be managed and lowered will probably be important for broad business deployment when the funding for presidency applications ends.
It’s going to encourage corporations to make the large investments that these sorts of rising applied sciences want for additional improvement – which ends up in additional worth decreases.
The excellent news is that a number of Texas-based main power corporations are already committing to those sorts of funding in direct air seize.
They usually have been doing so for years.
Houston-based Occidental Petroleum
OXY
The ensuing oil produced modifications the general economics for these initiatives, changing the carbon right into a invaluable commodity, somewhat than only a waste product to be saved.
A lot of this carbon dioxide-based EOR is happening within the Permian Basin, the place there are numerous depleted reservoirs out there to displace oil and retailer carbon. The trade within the Permian Basin has additionally demonstrated during the last 50 years that they know safely sequester carbon and handle it, with none important menace to surrounding communities. Given the significance of public confidence in regards to the general concept of carbon storage, Texas’ observe report could be an actual asset.
Texas additionally has favorable storage geology, with onshore storage capability for between 661 million and a pair of.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide in its gigantic underground reservoirs. For direct air seize initiatives in Texas’s Permian Basin, there will probably be no want for intensive pipeline infrastructure to maneuver the carbon dioxide to storage amenities.
Once more, an enormous value saver.
Direct air seize amenities are costly to run – about half the general value of the initiatives come from the power required to function them. And provided that the purpose is the removing of carbon from the ambiance, carbon-free fuels needs to be used.
As soon as extra, it’s Texas – this time by a protracted shot.
The Lone Star State is the biggest wind power producer within the U.S. Wind power accounted for 25% of its whole era in 2021, making the sorts of energy calls for of direct air seize appear modest compared. And higher but, it might accomplish that with out the necessity for an enormous infrastructure improve to its powerlines – a lot of the wind era is already in West Texas.
Below the necessities of the laws, the initiatives want to have the ability to seize and sequester or use no less than a million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Additionally they must reveal that they may very well be developed right into a regional carbon community for carbon storage.
A number of corporations in Texas are actively engaged on direct air seize options. Chevron and Occidental have each invested in a three way partnership to take carbon straight from the air and subsequently synthesize it into clear transportation fuels. ExxonMobil has spent the final three years working along with World Thermostat on direct air seize to advance “breakthrough know-how and methods to convey it to scale”.
The work these corporations are doing additionally ensures that they are going to have loads of human expertise and direct expertise in place – along with the wealth of power know-how already out there in Texas.
When the bulletins come, Texas ought to function prominently on the checklist.
The success of rising applied sciences like direct air seize really do cling on whether or not they can develop additional by attracting extra funding and turning into financial. Firms needs to be enthusiastic about their capability to make them work and flourish whereas doing so.
No different state could make a case like Texas about the way it is able to make this occur.
Emily Pickrell is a veteran power reporter, with greater than 12 years of expertise masking every thing from oil fields to industrial water coverage to the most recent on Mexican local weather change legal guidelines. Emily has reported on power points from across the U.S., Mexico and the UK. Previous to journalism, Emily labored as a coverage analyst for the U.S. Authorities Accountability Workplace and as an auditor for the worldwide support group, CARE.
UH Vitality is the College of Houston’s hub for power schooling, analysis and know-how incubation, working to form the power future and forge new enterprise approaches within the power trade.
Texas
AMBER ALERT: 8-year-old boy missing in Aransas Pass, suspect on the run
An AMBER Alert has been issued for 8-year-old Patrick Killian, who was taken from Aransas Pass, Texas. Authorities are searching for 41-year-old Jeffery Harris in connection with the abduction.
Texas Department of Public Safety says Patrick was last seen at noon on Friday, in the 2600 Block of Armstrong Rd in Aransas Pass, Texas. He is described as a white 8-year-old boy, approximately 4′0″ tall and weighing 50 lbs. He has blonde hair, and blue eyes, and was wearing black frame glasses at the time of his disappearance.
Patrick was last seen with 41-year-old Jeffery Harris, who is described as a white man, standing 5′9″ tall and weighing 215 lbs. Harris has brown hair and blue eyes.
Harris is believed to be driving a silver 2016 Hyundai Elantra with Texas license plate VDK447K.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Aransas Pass Police Department at 361-729-2222.I f you see the vehicle or have any details, please call 9-1-1.
Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
Texas
Betting odds, predictions: Arizona Wildcats shocking spread vs. Texas Tech basketball
Despite seven consecutive wins and a top-12 national ranking, the Arizona Wildcats are not expected to beat Texas Tech on Saturday.
The latest betting odds for Arizona’s Big 12 matchup vs. the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas, favor the home team by at least 5.5 points.
Big 12 road games are tough, but that’s still a shocking spread for a team that is playing as well as Arizona. Texas Tech (12-4, 3-2) has lost its last two home games — 85-84 in OT to Iowa State and 87-83 to UCF.
Arizona (11-5, 5-0) is 2-0 on the road in the Big 12 so far. The Wildcats beat Cincinnati 72-67 and West Virginia 75-56.
Fifth-year senior Caleb Love leads Arizona in scoring at 15.3 points per game. Junior guard Jaden Bradley is averaging 11.7 points and sophomore guard KJ Lewis is averaging 10.6 points.
New Mexico transfer JT Toppin leads Texas Tech in scoring and rebounding at 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. But it’s forward Darrion Williams (16.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.9 apg) and guard Chance McMillian (14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) that make the Red Raiders go. They’re both versatile defenders and will be difficult matchups for Arizona.
The Arizona at Texas Tech game is scheduled to tip off at 12 p.m. MST on Saturday. Here are the latest betting odds.
Arizona at Texas Tech Betting Odds, Spread, Predictions
(Rankings references are from the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which are used as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.)
The oddsmakers have Texas Tech as 5.5-point favorites. Here are the latest betting odds, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Who: No. 12 Arizona at No. 19 Texas Tech in Big 12 men’s basketball
Moneyline: Arizona +172, Texas Tech -210
Spread: Arizona +5.5 (-120)
Over/Under: 150.5
When: 12 p.m. MST/1 p.m. CT | Saturday, January 18
Where: United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, Texas
Live Stream: Watch Arizona-Texas Tech live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)
TV Channel: ESPN2
ESPN FPI Prediction: Arizona has a 49.4% chance to win
Our Prediction: Arizona 73, Texas Tech 68
More Arizona & Big 12 Analysis
Texas
Four-Star Recruit Tiki Hola Compares Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are one of the top destinations for class of 2026 defensive lineman Tiki Hola. He visited USC last season when the Trojans hosted the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Hola is a four-star recruit out of Bastrop, Texas and is ranked as the No. 30 defensive lineman in his class per 247Sports. He spoke to On3 about the top five schools on his list and he revealed what he looks for in a school.
Tiki Hola spoke to On3 on Jan. 12 about the update on his recruitment. Hola posted on his social media that his top five schools are currently the Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and SMU Mustangs. He plans to announce his commitment decision in July this year.
Hola talked about what is the biggest factor in his decision.
“I look at relationships. That’s always what I’ve looked at since my freshman year, since I started my recruiting process…not only does my relationship with the position coach matter, but also having a relationship with the head coach is big for me,” Hola said. “Also, I am looking at the development that a school can give me and how I can become a better person and a better player there.”
The chance to immediately start and play is low on the list of priorities for Hola.
“The last thing is where I fit on the depth chart and how valuable I feel on the team,” Hola said.
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Tiki Hola was asked about the visits he’s gone on to his top schools. Here’s what he had to say about his trip to USC.
“My visit to USC was great. I loved seeing all the different cultures and all the different things that they do. USC has a lot of history behind it,“ Hola said. “The stadium was beautiful. The Coliseum was a great environment to be in and the coaches made us feel welcome.”
Hola noted how good of a job the USC coaching staff has done throughout the recruiting process.
“Coach Shaun Nua (USC Defensive End Coach) and Aaron Amaama (USC Personnel Assistant), they’ve done a really good job recruiting me,” Hola said. “The enviroment and culture they have were great. Being able to see everyone in person there was phenomenal, from the facilities to the coaches. They treated us right.”
Hola also had many good things to say about his other visits to schools, so USC is by no means the front runner. Hola raved about the Longhorns and Fighting Irish.
“The relationship that I’ve built with coach Baker, the defensive line coach there, is great,” said Hola about Texas to On3. “We talk about how valuable I am to them. Coach Baker really makes me feel welcome. He loves to talk to me about my family and loves getting to know me personally… They make me feel welcome. Another thing is Texas is not too far from home.”
As for Notre Dame, which is competing in the College Football National Championship on Monday, Hola likes the traditions and coaching staff.
“Coach Marcus Freeman, coach Al Golden… and coach Al Washington, they’ve all done a really good job of keeping in touch with me, especially as they’re going on this national championship run,” Holsa said to On3. “They’ve consistently texted me every week about everything that they’re going through in practice for all these big games that they’re heading into… They have great culture, a great history and the development that they’ve had coming into this new year was great.”
Sounds like Hola is still very much weighing his options.
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MORE: USC Trojans, Lincoln Riley Building Momentum For 2026 Recruiting Cycle
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