Skip to main content

Greentown Labs Selects Midtown Site for Houston Incubator

Published Sep 22, 2020 by A.J. Mistretta

Greentown Labs Announcement, Houston TX

Greentown Labs, the cleantech startup incubator that earlier this summer announced plans to open a Houston facility in 2021, has chosen a spot on the south side of Midtown near the much-anticipated Ion innovation hub to build its incubator. 

Greentown Houston is expected to open in spring 2021 with more than 40,000 square feet of prototyping lab, office, and community space for about 50 startup companies, totaling 200 to 300 employees. The facility will be within the footprint of Rice Management Company’s 16-acre Innovation District, anchored by the 300,000-square-foot Ion. 

Greentown Labs announced its first-ever national expansion to Houston in June 2020, with the goal of accelerating the energy transition through entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration. Greentown is the largest climatech and cleantech incubator in North America, headquartered just outside of Boston and providing space for about 100 member companies.

"In order to meet the urgent challenge of climate change, we must engage the talent and assets of major ecosystems around the country,” said Greentown Labs CEO Emily Reichert. “We look forward to catalyzing the Houston ecosystem's support for climatetech startups as we work together toward a sustainable future for all.”

Greentown Houston joins a growing number of startup support organizations and startup companies already located or locating in the Midtown Innovation District, as well as Houston-based accelerator programs. Greentown will be located on the site of a former Fiesta grocery store. 

"What we love about Greentown Labs as much as its commitment to helping Houston become a leader in energy transition and climate change action is its proven track record of job creation through the support of local visionaries and entrepreneurs," said Ryan LeVasseur, Managing Director of Direct Real Estate at RMC, the developer of The Ion and the Innovation District. "Greentown Houston, like The Ion, is a great catalyst for growing the Innovation District and expanding economic opportunities for all Houstonians. We're thrilled Greentown Labs selected Houston for its first expansion and are honored it will be such a big part of the Innovation District moving forward."

The location in the Innovation District also positions Greentown Houston close to local universities with strong energy- and cleantech-focused programs, including Rice University, the University of Houston, Houston Community College, and other leading educational institutions. The site is less than two miles away from downtown Houston, and will provide entrepreneurs with access to investors and corporate and civic leaders. Finally, it’s located steps away from a Houston METRORail stop and accessible by a new, on-street protected bikeway.

"We are so pleased that Greentown Houston will locate in the heart of the Innovation District, where they will seamlessly integrate into the region's robust energy innovation ecosystem of major corporate energy R&D centers, corporate venture arms, VC-backed energy startups, and other startup development organizations supporting energy technology," said Susan Davenport, Chief Economic Development Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership. "Houston truly is the hub of the global energy industry, and Greentown Houston will ensure we continue to attract the next generation of energy leaders who will create and scale innovations that will change the world."

Learn more about Greentown LabsHouston innovation and the energy industry
 

Related News

Energy

International Co. Moves HQ to Houston, Announces Solar Manufacturing Plant Near Katy

8/26/24
Virginia-based TMEIC Corporation Americas has announced it will relocate its headquarters to Houston, with plans to build a solar manufacturing facility near Katy.   The company, a subsidiary of Japan’s TMEIC Corporation, will move to Houston’s Energy Corridor in March 2025, while maintaining an office in Roanoke, Virginia. TMEIC will also launch a state-of-the-art photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility in Brookshire. The 144,000-square-foot facility, expected to open in October, will be located near its existing power supply and medium voltage drive manufacturing plant in Katy. Initially, the facility will have the capacity to produce 9 GW annually, with potential for future expansion. The facility is projected to create up to 300 jobs.   "We are excited to make these investments for an expanded presence in the Houston area with the relocation of our headquarters and the opening of our new manufacturing facility,” said Manmeet S. Bhatia, President and CEO of TMEIC Corporation Americas, in a statement. “This strategic expansion underscores TMEIC's dedication to the renewable energy industry, advancing clean energy technology, maintaining strong client relationships, and competing on a global basis while proudly manufacturing in the United States.”    The Greater Houston Partnership played a pivotal role in attracting TMEIC to the region, working actively to bring solar energy companies to Houston.    This announcement underscores Houston's growing prominence as a leader in solar energy. According to the Clean Investment Monitor, Texas attracted over $12 billion in solar investments in 2023. As a pivotal player in the global energy transition, Houston has been at the forefront of this growth, establishing itself as a prime destination for solar manufacturing companies seeking expansion.  For instance, Renewable Parts, a company specializing in wind turbine supply chain and refurbishment, chose Humble for its new parts recirculation workshop. Similarly, international companies Triveni Turbines and Imperial Star Solar have also unveiled plans for new solar manufacturing facilities in the Houston area.  Learn more about Houston’s leadership in solar energy. 
Read More
Energy

Jupiter Power announces commercial operations of 400MWh of dispatchable power in Houston and continued investment in Texas

8/20/24
[PRESS RELEASE] - Jupiter Power LLC ("Jupiter Power") announced today the achievement of commercial operations of 400MWh of dispatchable power to the ERCOT grid from its Callisto I battery energy storage facility in Houston, Texas. This new facility, which will significantly increase Houston's supply of reliable, zero emissions power as it faces record demand increases, is a product of the market-based improvements by lawmakers in recent years to add competitive dispatchable power to the ERCOT grid.   The Callisto I Energy Center is a 200MW/400MWh battery energy storage system located in central Houston, five miles from the Medical Center and ten miles from the Houston Ship Channel at the site of a former HL&P H.O. Clarke fossil fuel power plant. The site can accommodate an additional 400MW/800MWh of battery energy storage generation. "Jupiter couldn't be prouder about bringing the Callisto I project online," said Andy Bowman, Chief Executive Officer of Jupiter Power. "This project responds to lawmakers' calls to increase affordable and dispatchable new generation in an area where people need more power. Callisto I is the first energy storage project at this scale in the City of Houston and will help meet Houston's growing power needs while also increasing resiliency from extreme weather events." Callisto I represents Jupiter Power's expansion of large-scale operational battery energy storage projects outside of West Texas and into Houston, to provide the city with clean, resilient and emissions-free power.  "The announcement of Jupiter Power's Callisto I Energy Storage project is significant and exciting for the region, as it's the first large-scale transmission-connected energy storage project in the City of Houston. This critical project will help address peak power demand and is another great example of our region's leadership in scaling and deploying impactful solutions for an all the above energy future," said Jane Stricker, Greater Houston Partnership, Senior Vice President and Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) Executive Director. "It is essential that Texas has a diversified generation portfolio," said State Senator Charles Schwertner, Chairman of the Senate Committee of Business and Commerce, "Batteries play an important role within that portfolio to help address demands in times of need." Jupiter Power is a developer, owner, and operator of stand-alone, grid-connected battery energy storage projects that was founded in 2017. Callisto I is Jupiter's ninth project in ERCOT, bringing its total ERCOT fleet to 1,375MWh. In December of 2023, Jupiter Power announced the closing of a $65.2 million financing with First Citizens Bank to finance the construction of Callisto I.   Media Contact Caitlin Smith (832) 326-1238 Caitlin.Smith@JupiterPower.io Media@JupiterPower.io
Read More

Related Events

Economic Development

Future of Global Energy Conference Presented by Shell USA, Inc.

Join us at the annual Future of Global Energy Conference, presented by Shell USA, Inc. and hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI), and the Center for Houston's Future.…

Learn More
Learn More
Executive Partners