Page 45 - Briefcase Volume 38 Number 1

Tracy Hester envisions a not too
distant future when innovations in the
production and use of energy sources
will significantly lower carbon emissions,
combatting climate change while meeting
growing demands for affordable and
sustainable energy options.

Hester, an associate instructional
professor of law at the University
of Houston Law Center, has been
working toward that goal since 2018
as a co-founder and co-director of
the university’s Center for Carbon
Management in Energy. The center’s
research is described as a holistic
approach to reducing carbon
emissions and greenhouse gases.

“It is an interdisciplinary center that Tracy Hester
includes an array of specialties from
engineering, geology, business, public policy, In addition to teaching a range of courses on
law; essentially it has a broader range of disciplines environment, natural resource and climate change
than could be brought to bear on the challenges in law, he originated an innovative environmental
one place,” Hester explained. “In addition, the center is practicum that matches students with multiple leading
located in the heart of the energy capital of the world. environmental attorneys to work on practical projects
That gives it unique access to expertise and resources and to develop innovative environmental initiatives.
in corporate and other public sectors.” “There has always been strong interest in
“My role is to help set strategic direction for the environmental, energy and climate issues among Law
center, select research projects, and organize activities Center students,” he said. “It’s an area that has always
and programs to build awareness of these issues been an important career path for our students and
nationally and on campus.” The Center recently entered graduates and important generally for the public
into sponsorship partnerships with major energy in assuring a sustainable planet. The fact that the
corporations and issued two new seed grants to help Law Center has a nationally ranked program and a
develop methane recapture and reuse technologies as specialized LL.M. has always attracted a lot of students.”
well as strategies to encourage the capture, reuse, and While much has been accomplished, Hester said, there
permanent storage of carbon dioxide. is much left to do. In particular, he said, climate change
Hester has spent much of his career practicing and hasn’t received the policy attention it needs and still
teaching environmental law. Prior to joining the Law poses enormous challenges to Houston in the short and
Center faculty in 2013, he practiced for 16 years at long term. The recent upheavals due to the COVID-19
Bracewell LLP and led the firm’s environmental pandemic and its roiling disruption of Houston
group in its Houston office. energy markets and consumption – viewed against
He is a member of the American College of the strikingly blue skies over the Houston skyline and
Environmental Lawyers and the American Law improved air quality – underscore the paradox.
Institute and was elected to the Council of the “Houston has come a long way in improving the quality
American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, of our environment,” Hester concluded. “But we have
Energy and Resources. He currently serves as chair a lot to do in charting a course after the pandemic and
of the section’s Climate Change, Sustainable deciding what environmental, energy, and climate
Development and Ecological Services Committee. future all of us want to pursue.”

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