海角社区

The 海角社区 Energy Institute has named Tyler Gray as its inaugural director of energy innovation, a key leadership role within 海角社区鈥檚 expanding energy research and policy enterprise.

Gray鈥檚 appointment marks an important step in 海角社区鈥檚 continued move to align energy-focused units under a single institute to serve Louisiana鈥檚 evolving energy economy.

Gray previously served as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy since the inauguration of Governor Jeff Landry. During his tenure in the Governor鈥檚 cabinet, Gray spearheaded efforts to modernize Louisiana鈥檚 energy and natural resource governance. His move to 海角社区 reinforces a shared commitment between higher education, industry, and government to connect scholarly research with practical implementation.

鈥淯nder my administration, we鈥檝e modernized how Louisiana manages energy and natural resources鈥攃lear roles, better oversight, and a stronger foundation鈥攁nd Tyler was central to that effort,鈥� Governor Jeff Landry said. 鈥淗is move to the Energy Institute will continue building a cohesive, trusted pipeline from research to execution so projects are safe, technically sound, and delivered with confidence. I鈥檓 asking everyone鈥攊ndustry, higher education, and agencies鈥攖o row in the same direction. One team. This is an opportunity to align talent and research to Louisiana鈥檚 needs and move faster on the projects that matter to families across our state.鈥�

鈥淎s Louisiana's flagship university, 海角社区鈥檚 mission is to serve the state and its most important industries while developing the workforce to keep Louisiana competitive. Tyler coming in to join the 海角社区 Energy Institute increases our ability to partner and deliver integrated solutions for Louisiana鈥檚 energy future.鈥�

Robert Twilley, 海角社区 Vice President of Research & Economic Development

The 海角社区 Energy Institute鈥攅stablished in September鈥攂rings together the Center for Energy Studies, Louisiana Geological Survey, and 海角社区 research, innovation, and policy programs under one umbrella, providing a unified platform to serve the state. The institute builds on more than 40 years of trusted, independent energy analysis and extends 海角社区鈥檚 legacy as Louisiana鈥檚 anchor institution for energy development.

鈥淭he Energy Institute is designed to unify 海角社区鈥檚 strengths鈥攔esearch, policy, innovation, information, data, education, and outreach,鈥� said Greg Upton, interim executive director of the 海角社区 Energy Institute. 鈥淲e鈥檙e expanding our capacity to connect expertise to real-world problems, and Tyler鈥檚 background across government and industry will help us convert complex questions into applied projects in partnership with agencies, parishes, and the private sector鈥攕o results show up on the ground.鈥�

Governor Landry鈥檚 recent executive orders and legislative reforms, including Act 458 of 2025, have laid the foundation for developing a unified network that connects Louisiana鈥檚 regulatory, permitting, and development processes with the expertise of the state鈥檚 universities and research institutions. This network aims to address the future needs of the state across multiple agencies.

鈥淓conomic development is not a singular event, but rather a continuous process that unfolds over time,鈥� Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said. 鈥淟ouisiana competes and wins when we move as an aligned system鈥攔ecruitment, certification, permitting, and regulation鈥攇rounded in trusted research. Coordinating through Tyler and 海角社区鈥檚 Energy Institute ensures our projects are built on solid analysis, with predictable timelines and confidence for communities statewide.鈥�

鈥淥ur job at DEQ is to implement federal law consistently and transparently,鈥� said Courtney Burdette, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 hard to do without clear, shared frameworks. With better coordination, we can stand up practical program overviews for public officials, do the due diligence on emerging trends, and integrate data into permitting and set predictable standards and timelines. The outcome is twofold: communities gain confidence in environmental integrity, and responsible operators gain the certainty to invest in Louisiana instead of somewhere else. That鈥檚 good governance, and it鈥檚 how we keep innovation and protection moving together.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檝e spent the last two years modernizing how the department operates鈥攃learer processes, stronger oversight, and a cleaner path from policy to implementation,鈥� said Dustin Davidson, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy. 鈥淎ct 458 gives C&E a process to coordinate through a certification program that ties back to results. We鈥檒l connect experts across the state and build certification programs that are rigorous and transparent, and get solutions to parishes faster without forcing them to reinvent the wheel. By building a durable network and setting consistent standards, we鈥檒l streamline decisions, raise quality, and grow public trust in how Louisiana manages energy and natural resources.鈥�

The 海角社区 Energy Institute serves as the central hub for energy research, innovation, data, and policy at 海角社区. By connecting Louisiana鈥檚 universities, industries, and government agencies, the 海角社区 Energy Institute ensures research becomes results鈥攁nchoring Louisiana鈥檚 role as a national leader in reliable, affordable, and responsible energy development.

鈥淎s secretary, my goal was to fix the system鈥攖o make government effective, transparent, and financially sound. At 海角社区, my goal is to empower the system鈥攖o make sure every researcher, agency, and industry partner has the tools and data they need to innovate confidently.鈥�

Tyler Gray, 海角社区 Director of Energy Innovation

鈥淚鈥檝e worked across every side of the equation鈥攊ndustry, regulation, and policy鈥攁nd I鈥檝e seen what happens when good ideas lack a structure for execution,鈥� 海角社区 Director of Energy Innovation Tyler Gray said. 鈥淭he executive orders Governor Landry has issued over the last two years built that structure鈥攁 framework turning facts into outcomes through clear processes, accountability, and due diligence. 海角社区鈥檚 Energy Institute continues the work the Legislature began in 1982 with the Center for Energy Studies, ensuring Louisiana always has a trusted source of expertise to guide sound decisions. My goal is to help researchers see their work become part of that solution鈥攖o watch their expertise move from concept to implementation in ways that directly serve the people of Louisiana.鈥�

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