Powering a secure future

UTRGV’s project RESCUE was named one of the 10 finalists in the Gulf Futures Challenge on Sept. 9. The initiative received $300,000 in planning funds and, now, has the chance to compete for one-of-two $20 million awards to be granted later in the competition.

“As the public university for the Rio Grande Valley, our responsibility is to improve quality of life and support the health, safety and economic future of the communities we serve,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey in a Sept. 10 news release.

Bailey, in the news release, highlights the work faculty and staff are leading with regional partners to “improve energy security for families, underserved communities and businesses across the region.”

Project RESCUE, short for Renewable Energy for Sustainable, Continuous, Uninterrupted Ecosystems; aims to address energy insecurity by combining advanced technology with community involvement, according to one project leader.  

Cecilio Ortiz García, professor of political science and one of the project’s co-principal investigators, said the project was designed not only to strengthen physical infrastructure but also to “increase our region’s resilience” to extreme events such as winter freezes, flooding and record-breaking heat waves.

Ortiz García said the initiative seeks to find effective and innovative ways to improve technology and the community parts of the system. 

Another main goal is workforce preparation, according to the professor.

Ortiz García added that transitioning to renewable energy must come with training opportunities and pathways to new jobs, ensuring Valley residents are included in the global shift to sustainable energy “in a way that doesn’t leave anyone behind.”

Energy storage is also central to the plan, according to Sergio Perez, director of Sustainability Programs.

Perez said renewable power cannot be truly reliable without the systems to store it. While solar power is abundant during the day, he added, storage extends its usefulness into the evening and nighttime hours.

The director also pointed to the potential of non-lithium battery systems, which could reduce environmental impacts and supply-chain vulnerabilities.

Renewable energy offers a financial benefit as Valley families often spend a higher portion of their income on utilities compared with the national average, according to Perez. Innovative storage solutions could help lower those costs.

“This type of innovation is critical as we look at how to make our communities and campuses more resilient and sustainable,” he said.

The $300,000 in planning funds supports graduate students and community focus groups as UTRGV develops its full proposal.

Ortiz García said the team remains optimistic despite the competitive process. More than a university project, he said, RESCUE is about helping Valley residents envision a future where energy is affordable, secure and sustainable.

“Not only for the university to get this honor, but actually for our communities to feel more resilient and visualize a more resilient future in terms of their energy security and their health and well-being,” Ortiz García said.

Awardees will be announced by early 2026, according to the Gulf Futures Challenge timeline. 

About The Author

Dayra Gonzalez

Dayra Lizeth Gonzalez Escobedo serves as Reporter for The Rider. She is majoring in Education with a concentration in Bilingual Education. After graduation she aspires to work in a classroom environment.

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