CERAWEEK-About 300 protesters chant, rally outside energy conference

By Erwin Seba

HOUSTON, March 23 (Reuters) - About 300 protesters chanted “we need clean air, not another billionaire!” on Monday outside the Houston hotel where many of the world's top energy industry executives have gathered this week for the largest annual industry conference.

CERAWeek draws oil, gas and power company executives from around the world, in addition to top officials, who this year include U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Members of 45 organizations from across the United States protested at a park across the street from the conference hotel, said Chloe Torres, from Corpus Christi, Texas, of the Texas Campaign for the Environment.

“We’re suffering the consequences of hyperindustrialization,” Torres said. "This is what has people getting sicker. It’s a huge strain on our lives. It’s like they expect us to just take it. We’ve come here to Houston to confront them.”

Houston police officers, some mounted on horses, were grouped around the fenced area where the activists chanted “shame, shame” as conference attendees walked by.