"This new program will continue my father's focus on sustainability in Texas," said Meredith Dreiss, president of The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation. "Texas has tremendous clean technology potential. We hope this initiative can help deploy it, benefiting Texas businesses, consumers, and the environment."

To implement this new grant-making initiative, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation will partner with the Energy Foundation, a partnership of major donors based in San Francisco.

"Texas already leads the nation in power generated from wind," said Eric Heitz, president of the Energy Foundation. "We are delighted to partner with The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation to advance other new clean technologies. Texas should think big on building energy efficiency, solar power, and a host of other clean advanced technologies."

Texas is the largest emitter of global warming pollution in the United States and, if it were a country, would be the seventh largest emitter in the world.

"The good news is there are a number of pragmatic policy and technology solutions we can implement now," added Marilu Hastings, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation program advisor. "We look forward to working with Texas energy experts and decision-makers to develop a portfolio of projects to promote these solutions."

The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation's three-year program will support technical and economic analysis, model policy development and policy-maker education to spur big new clean energy markets. Such clean technologies, especially energy efficiency and renewable energy, can meet Texas energy needs, reduce pollution and grow the economy.

To develop the energy and climate program, the foundation's staff and board spent a year exploring critical energy and climate issues, and the technology and policy options available to address them. The foundation convened several meetings of prominent scientists, policy analysts and advocates in the climate and energy fields.

"The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation is showing real leadership here," said Mr. Heitz. "This commitment will more than double the philanthropic support for clean technology in Texas."