Houston startup incubator aims to 'provide climate solutions addressing the largest greenhouse gas-emitting sectors'

Houston has its first startup incubator for technology focused on climate.

It’s called Greentown Labs Houston, Community Impact newspaper reported.

The parent company is based in Somerville, Massachusetts and this is the first out-of-state expansion, the story said. The 40,000-square-foot Houston location is near Midtown at 4200 San Jacinto St., the newspaper reported.

“It’s no coincidence that one year after Mayor [Sylvester] Turner and the City of Houston announced its first ever climate action plan that the city’s first-ever climate tech incubator is opening,” Emily Reichert, Greentown Labs CEO, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 22.

The action plan sets the goal of making the city of Houston carbon neutral by 2050, the story said.

Investors in Greentown Labs Houston include Chevron, Shell, BHP and Microsoft, the newspaper reported.

Initially, the Houston facility will provide space for 30 green energy startup companies but has space for 50 companies and 300 employees.

It will offers labs for making prototypes, office space and community space, the newspaper said.

“Their technology, like that of our members in Boston, will provide climate solutions addressing the largest greenhouse gas-emitting sectors, including electricity, buildings, transportation, agriculture and manufacturing,” Reichert said.

It will help Houston become a leader in the transition away from fossil fuels, the CEO said.

“I’m bullish on Houston leading this transition for many reasons, not the least of which is Houston is home to world-leading energy organizations and incredible engineering strength, talent and assets that can, and frankly, must be redeployed to a decarbonized future,” Reichert said.

Greentown Labs Houston is near The Ion on Main Street in the former Sears building, which is currently undergoing a $110 million renovation and is expected to open later this year, the story said.

The Ion, which has 270,000 square feet of space, is part of a 16-acre “innovation district” near Midtown, Community Impact reported.