San Diego-based utility company Sempra Energy announced plans to relocate its headquarters to Houston, TX. With this new “Center of Excellence,” the utility company expects to oversee electric and natural gas operations in Texas and Louisiana.
“We are committed to building the premier energy infrastructure company in North America, and creating a regional headquarters in Houston advances our business strategy,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy. “Texas is a remarkable market, and our Houston Center of Excellence will allow us to add hundreds of new engineering and construction positions to support our growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) business in the Gulf region, while also allowing us to showcase our company’s commitment to innovation, technology and leadership within the energy industry.”
This relocation is not Sempra Energy’s first presence in Texas. Several years ago, the utility company acquired a controlling stake in Oncor, a Texas-based electric transmission company, in a $9.5 billion deal. In all, Sempra has invested more than $10 billion in Texas.
According to Texas governor Gregg Abbott, “Their new Houston office is a symbol of confidence in Texas’ energy leadership, workforce and regulatory climate. Houston is the world’s premier energy community and I welcome Sempra’s expansion in Texas.”
In addition to an extensive office space, the Center of Excellence will also showcase new, interactive technologies developed by Sempra companies. In a press release, Sempra said this showcase will include technologies “such as the expansion of natural gas into the electricity mix to support grid stability and integration of digital and meteorological technologies to improve power reliability, as well as virtual reality experiences.”
The Houston Center of Excellence is expected to open later this year.
For more information, read Sempra Energy’s press release.
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