Each Tuesday of this month, Houston Matters will explore efforts here in Greater Houston to pursue alternative, renewable forms of energy, those that might someday dramatically reduce carbon emissions. In future weeks, weâll explore wind energy, hydrogen, and biofuels. We start today with solar energy.
We discuss efforts to expand the use of solar energy in Houston with Cal Morton of Texas Solar Outfitters, Violeta Archer, President of the Houston Renewable Energy Group, and Seamus Curran, Director of the Institute of NanoEnergy at the University of Houston, and the founder and CEO of the solar energy company Voltaics.
Also this hour: You can experience some fairly intense traffic jams on many of Greater Houstonâs main arteries. Thereâs the daily commute in and out of downtown along the Gulf Freeway, the Eastex, the Katy Freeway. Thereâs the almost constant heavy traffic along the 610 loop in the uptown/Galleria neighborhood. But thereâs a special rarefied air set aside for U.S. 290, the Northwest Freeway â in particular, the stretch of highway that extends from the northwest edge of the 610 loop to beyond the Sam Houston. Exploding population growth in the area, combined with a massive ongoing construction project, makes this one of the most frequently jammed up traffic areas in Greater Houston. As we learn as we talk with Karen Othon of the Texas Department of Transportation, the population surge is the reason for the construction, which will (eventually) rebuild 290 all the way out to FM 2920.
Plus: Golfing in Greater Houston has been in the news recently â thereâs the ongoing question over what to do with the historic Gus Wortham golf course. And this weekend, Red Stone Golf Club in Humble will once again be the site of the one and only PGA Tour stop in Greater Houston, the Shell Houston Open. In advance of the tournament, we head to Missouri City to discuss golf culture in H-town, with Quail Valley Golf Club GM and head golf pro Tyson Stittleburg.
