Regional collaboration will build on the Permian Basin’s status at the center of the global energy economy
Colleges, Universities and national laboratories form a two-state consortium focused on advanced energy research along with education, workforce and community development
Odessa, Texas—The Permian Energy Development Laboratory today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding among seven New Mexico and Texas universities, two national laboratories and a center for advanced energy research. The MOU reflects a shared goal of conducting advanced energy research and deployment, educating the next generation of energy professionals, and supporting energy-intensive communities and the natural resources they depend on.
Participating institutions to date include the Houston Advanced Research Center, Midland College, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, Odessa College, Sandia National Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at El Paso, and The University of Texas Permian Basin. The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation launched the effort and continues to incubate the startup organization.
A Collaborative Research agenda
Research and development
The lab’s scientific research and technology deployment efforts will focus on four primary areas of inquiry:
Advanced energy, fuels, and integration
Carbon and materials management
Water, land, and agriculture; and
Economic development
Education and workforce
Education and workforce efforts will introduce students to advanced energy concepts to prepare them to excel in the technology and energy careers of the future, create higher education credentials that support employment in Texas and New Mexico’s cutting-edge energy industries; and encourage advanced energy job creation and entrepreneurship.
Community
The lab’s community engagement efforts will include short- and long-term programs, including town hall meetings to gather initial input for creating an entrepreneur resource center and scholarship programs to prepare students to work with new energy technologies. The goal is to create opportunities for everyone living in and around the energy sector and share the benefits and costs fairly.
Texas and southeast New Mexico are positioned to win the race to build the world’s next-generation energy technologies. The Permian Basin has the resources, know-how, and workforce to ensure success. The Permian Energy Development Lab will ensure the region drives the global landscape of energy technologies.
Memorandum of Understanding
