From:
Date: February 25, 2025
Subject: ECA Nexus Newsletter : Spring Forward in Energy
Dear Fellow ECA Members,
Welcome to another SPRING semester! As we embark on another exciting chapter, the Energy and Cleantech Association (ECA) is gearing up for more engaging events, insightful discussions, and industry connections. In this edition of our newsletter, we’ll share key highlights, upcoming opportunities, and ways for you to stay involved.
Thank you for being part of this incredible community—let’s build on our momentum and make this semester even more impactful!
🎉 Congratulations to Our ECA Survey Winners! 🎉
A big thank you to everyone who participated in the ECA Membership Survey! Your feedback is invaluable and helps us improve the ECA experience. Congratulations to the three lucky winners of the exclusive ECA swag: 🥳
- Kristina Borovkova – Professional MBA Evening, Class 2026
- Evans Anto-Darkwah – Full Time MBA, Class 2026
- Tyler Sullivan – Executive MBA, Class 2025
âš¡Incredible ENERGY at the Happy Hour! âš¡
Huge thanks to everyone who showed up for a chill weekday night of networking and great conversations. It was a blast co-hosting with the Consulting Association and welcoming Chicago Booth Energy Group to Houston! With an amazing turnout, we hope you all made valuable connections with Booth and CA folks.
We are happy to share the contact info and interests here and stay in contact as we return to the working world.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZbPZ9vFaAn0B6RQSkDFpu_QEulTlzrVZAIPoWImA0zM/edit?usp=sharing
Looking forward to seeing many of you again. Stay tuned for more exciting events ahead! 🚀⚡
News Spotlight
- President Trump’s Executive Actions to Boost Fossil Fuel Production: In a series of executive orders, President Donald Trump has taken significant steps to enhance domestic fossil fuel production. These actions include declaring a national energy emergency to expedite permitting processes, withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, lifting bans on offshore drilling, and suspending offshore wind leases. The administration aims to reduce energy costs, strengthen national security, and capitalize on the nation’s abundant oil and gas reserves.
- Global Cleantech 100 Highlights Key Trends for 2025: The 2025 Global Cleantech 100 report identifies significant tipping points in cleantech innovation, including the need for supply economics to support first-of-a-kind projects, the increasing power demand driven by data centers and electrification, and a resurgence in climate adaptation and resilience technologies. The report emphasizes the importance of deep scientific innovation and the scaling of sustainable solutions to address these emerging challenges
Energy: Oil and Gas
- Chevron and Engine No. 1 Collaborate to Develop Natural Gas Power Plants: This initiative aims to meet the growing power demands driven by artificial intelligence data centers. The planned facilities are expected to generate up to four gigawatts of electricity by 2027 and may incorporate carbon capture and storage technology.
- U.S. Upstream Oil and Gas Mergers and Acquisitions Reach $105 Billion in 2024: In 2024, mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. upstream oil and gas sector totaled $105 billion, marking the third-highest annual sum, according to Enverus. While the Permian Basin remained a focal point, limited opportunities prompted companies to explore other regions, such as the Williston Basin and Eagle Ford, for mature shale assets. A notable trend was the increase in gas-focused deals, surpassing $20 billion for the first time since 2016, driven by rising interest in liquefied natural gas and power demand.
Renewable and Cleantech
- Suspension of $300 Billion in Clean Energy Loans: President Trump has halted $300 billion in loans designated for clean energy projects, affecting initiatives in manufacturing and renewable energy across the United States. These loans, part of previous infrastructure and climate legislation, were intended to support projects in wind, solar, and electric vehicle sectors. ​​​​​​​
- Geothermal Energy Gains Favor Amid Policy Shifts: Geothermal energy offers stable electricity generation and utilizes technology similar to that of the oil and gas industries. The nomination of Chris Wright, a geothermal advocate, to lead the Department of Energy underscores this support. Proponents anticipate significant growth in geothermal capacity, viewing it as a climate-friendly and reliable energy source.
Events and Professional Development
- On-Campus (Attendance policy)
- 2025 Clean Tech and New Energies Career Connections Networking Event: February 25, 2025, 4pm - 6pm, Anderson Family Commons (AFC)
- Global Perspectives in the Energy Industry: Diversity & Innovation with Ale Arbelaez '25 Chevron, March 18, 2025, 4pm - 6pm, McNeil Hall -Room 312 (Co-hosting with Latin Business Student Association (LBSA))
- Exxon Campus Tour: March 27 Thursday, 2025 (Mark your calendar, more details will be posted on Campus Group)
- Off-Campus/Conferences
- AI in Energy Summit, February 24–25, 2025, Norris Conference Center, Houston, TX
- Energy High Performance Computing Conference, February 25-27, 2025, BRC at Rice University | Houston, TX
- Data Center Load Growth Panel Discussion & Networking Happy Hour, February 26, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at The Briar Club, Houston.
- Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Conference 2025. March 3–5, 2025, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
- CERAWeek 2025, March 10–14, 2025, Hilton Americas-Houston, Houston, TX
Career Resources
- Internship and Job Listings
- Case Competitions
- EnergyTech University Prize 2025 - Sponsored by the Dept. of Energy - $400,000 in prizes. Rice University is hosting one of 15 virtual regional competitions in early March to determine which teams advance to the live final event.
Don’t forget to join our LinkedIn group: Rice Business Energy & Cleantech Alumni to stay connected. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14332429/
Energy and Cleantech Association
Rice Jones Business School