Part of the lure is the preexisting cluster of energy companies and individuals with the expertise necessary to make this idea a reality:
Houston is already home to a handful of major wind power project developers, including those owned by oil and gas giants BP and Shell, thanks in large part to the state's ample wind resources, renewable energy incentives created by lawmakers and competitive power markets.
And the industry blew this way again Monday when Danish powerhouse Vestas Wind Systems said it will open its first U.S. research and development facility here. The office will open in 2009 and grow to about 100 researchers by early 2010, not including support staff, with more positions likely to come.
...
Vestas considered sites in 35 states in its search for a research office location, [CEO] Engel said. It recently chose Colorado for two manufacturing facilities, but Houston's high concentration of engineers, relatively low cost of doing business, critical mass of wind developers and other major energy companies were the main drivers for landing the research and development site.
"It was important to be part of this kind of cluster of energy businesses," Engel said.
This concentration of expertise, capital, and business is central to a city's success and argues against predictions that had been made by some that the internet made "place" obsolete. It is still necessary for cities to market themselves as viable and exciting places to be in order to attract the talent that can preserve and enhance their economic viability.
I find it interesting that the conference is happening downtown right after the opening of Discovery Green, a new and very nice park across from the convention center. This may be the only view people get of Houston, and the powers that be want it to be a good one to entice them to return.
For more on wind energy and related matters click on this blog.
