Energy and Environment in North Carolina

Symposium Description | Agenda | Summary Report (PDF)

The Symposium

The 2007 Symposium of the Institute for the Environment and partners focused on the role of North Carolina universities and colleges assist the state in development of a new energy infrastructure, and the ways in which creative industry-government-NGO-university partnerships can provide the stimulus for these changes. The Symposium was founded on the idea that the entire energy infrastructure, both in energy provision and use, will undergo dramatic changes in the next 50 years in response to dwindling supplies of traditional fuels and problems of climate change. This change will require innovative technologies, policies and community designs that recognize that energy use lies at the root of both a variety of environmental problems and needed economic activity. The universities and colleges in this state can be powerful players in this process, but only if we coordinate ourselves better on our campuses, between our campuses, and in partnership with non-academic organizations.

To start the process of change in North Carolina, the Symposium brought together the campuses of the University of North Carolina system, the suppliers and users of energy, and the government and NGO offices with energy interests. It identified the "hot button" issues of energy provision and use in North Carolina over the next 50 years, and identified resources state campuses can bring to the table in meeting this challenge. The goal was to develop a road map for academic engagement in energy issues in North Carolina.

The Symposium took place over two days, March 9 and 10, 2007 at the Friday Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. The first day was built around presentations from key national figures, followed by presentations from the North Carolina environmental community, energy suppliers, energy users, municipal planners, educators and regulatory organizations. The second day was organized around a series of smaller workshops focused on specific roles for the University of North Carolina system campuses, producing a summary of the goals, interests and resources to be brought to the table by these campuses, and how these campuses can engage in activities with outside partners in the state. The goal was to transform the research, education and outreach activities at UNC- Chapel Hill and the other campuses, turning them into a powerful resource to which the state can turn in addressing what will surely be the largest challenge of sustainability in the coming decades.

Thanks to the Progress Energy Foundation, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at UNC; the UNC Sustainability Office; and the Institute for Advanced Materials, Nanoscience and Technology at UNC for their support!!

March 9, 2007 - Opening Plenary Session, Redbud A/B, Friday Center
8:00	Check-in at tables outside of Redbud A/B. New registrations will be accepted.
8:30	Welcome from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Dr. Tony Waldrop, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, UNC-Chapel Hill Overview of Energy and Environment in North Carolina: Dr. Douglas J. Crawford-Brown, Professor and Director, UNC Institute for the Environment
9:00	University Sector Keynote: Dr. Susan Avery, Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School; University of Colorado at Boulder (was Director, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)). Title: 'Carpe Vim' - Seizing the Opportunities in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Introductions by Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, Institute for the Environment, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and Public Policy, Richard Andrews.
9:45	Business-Energy Supply Sector Keynote, Ken Huffman, Technical Director, Electric Power Research Institute (Charlotte office) (EPRI). Title: Electricity Technology in a Carbon-Constrained Future Introductions by UNC-Chapel Hill Research Professor David McNelis.
10:30	Break
10:45	Government Investment Sector Keynote, David Garman, Decker Garman Sullivan LLC, former Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy. Title: Energy Policy: Why a Myopic Focus on Washington Can't Deliver the Goods Introductions by Arey Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Thomas J. Meyer.
11:30	Business-Energy Use Sector Keynote, Harold L. (Hal) Snyder, Global Technology Director, Fluoroproducts Division, DuPont. Title: Embracing Sustainability Introductions by Director, Institute for Advanced Materials, Nanoscience & Technology; Director, NSF Science & Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes; William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University, Dr. Joe DeSimone
12:15	Group Luncheon, Trillium Room, Friday Center - Luncheon Remarks by UNC-Chapel Hill Vice Chancellor for Engagement and Dean, School of Government, Mike Smith. Introductions by Dr. Douglas J. Crawford-Brown, Professor and Director, UNC Institute for the Environment.
1:30	The University - Energy and environment activities across the UNC system. Panel led by Dr. Thomas J. Meyer, Arey Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, UNC-Chapel Hill; members: Dr. Christopher Gould, Professor, Department of Physics, NC State University; Dr. Harmohindar Singh, Director - Center for Energy Research and Technology, North Carolina A & T State University; Peter M. Schwarz, Professor of Economics and Senior Faculty Associate, Global Institute for Energy and Environmental Systems, UNC Charlotte; Dennis Scanlin, Professor of Technology, Coordinator of Appropriate Technology Program, Appalachian State University; and Steve Kalland, Director, NC Solar Center.
2:30	Business - Business/university partnerships to move the State forward into a new energy future. Panel led by Professor Joe DeSimone; members: Pam Faggert, Vice President, Environment, Dominion Resources; Vicky Will, Director, Environment, Health & Safety Services, Power Operations Group, Progress Energy; Bill Bailey, DuPont; Steven J. Rowlan, General Manager, Environmental Affairs, Nucor; and Diane V. Denton, Director, Energy Efficiency Policy & Collaboration, Duke Energy.
3:30	Break
3:45	Government - Government/university partnerships to move the State forward into a new energy future. Panel led by Larry Shirley, Director, N.C. State Energy Office; members: Senator Eleanor Kinnaird D-23 (Orange, Person), N.C. General Assembly; Secretary William G. Ross, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Robert McMahan, Science Advisor, Office of the Governor; and James Kerr II, Commissioner, NC Utilities Commission.
4:45	Non-Governmental Organizations - Forging a New Energy Future: the role of nonprofits and universities. Panel led by Jane Preyer, Southeast Regional Director, Environmental Defense; members: R. Neal Elliott, Industrial Program Director, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy; Joy Vermillion Heinsohn, Director of Policy Initiatives, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation; Truman Semans, Director for Markets and Business Strategy, Pew Center on Global Climate Change; and Ivan Urlaub, Director, NC Sustainable Energy Association
5:45	Private Reception, Atrium
6:45	Group Dinner, Trillium Room, Friday Center - Dinner remarks by N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary William G. Ross. Title: Global warming and the partnership role that universities and governments must continue to develop to address it Introductions by Professor Dr. Joe DeSimone.
Day Two: March 10, 2007
8:30	Check-in at tables outside of Redbud A/B. New registrations will be accepted.
9:00	UNC System Interest Groups in Energy and Environment - Discussion Sessions Identifying UNC’s Resources in Energy and Environment and Coordinating Them to Help the State Move Forward
	University Research Programs Discussion Leader: Dr. David McNelis Location: Redbud A/B The research breakout group will meet to identify interinstitutional core energy source-related strengths and individuals that could potentially collaborate on energy-related research programs. These core groups would be assembled from the UNC System and would be augmented with critical expertise as needed from non-UNC System local, regional, national or international universities, institutions or organizations.	University Sustainability Programs Discussion Leader: Cindy Pollock Shea Location: Dogwood A Join your peers from across the state to discuss effective strategies for achieving climate neutrality. Explore how UNC system schools can work together to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, provide alternatives to the use of single occupancy vehicles, expand recycling programs, and reduce the environmental impact of vehicle fleets. Brainstorm about the institutional structures and staffing needs required to get serious about reducing energy use. And assess how UNC campuses can work together to more effectively address these challenges.
	University Educational Programs Discussion Leader: Dr. Pete Andrews Location: Windflower B This session will share information about what energy and environment education programs are currently available across the UNC system and nearby campuses, what educational resources they provide to meet the needs identified during Friday's sessions, and where the most important gaps are and how we might fill them. We will also brainstorm how these programs could be expanded and/or linked to offer a more directed energy focus for students across the universities, and whether there are ways we could develop more collaboration across the campuses to meet these needs.	University Public Service and Engagement Programs Discussion Leader: Kathleen Gray Location: Dogwood B In this session, we will discuss opportunities for university programs to effectively conduct outreach and public service--in partnership with government, business and nonprofit organizations--on energy issues.
11:00	Closing Plenary Session, Moderated by Doug Crawford-Brown, Redbud A/B
12:00	Symposium Closes