The 20th Annual RMAEE Energy Forum

“Achieving a Carbon Free Economy”

Can we get there and how can you help?

Overview - Schedule and Speaker Topics:

• 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Registration, continental breakfast, Networking
• Why It’s Needed – Dr. Charles F. (Chuck) Kutscher served as the Director of the Buildings and Thermal Sciences Center (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) until his retirement in July 2018. He has given presentations around the world on climate change solutions. He is the lead author of the recently published third edition of the college textbook, Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems.
• State Perspective – Keith Hay, Director of Utility Policy (Colorado Energy Office) will provide an update on recent State energy legislation and policy/implementation steps.
• Break with snacks and vendor exhibits
• Utility Perspectives – A panel including Jeff Lyng, Director of Environmental Policy (Xcel Energy) will provide insights into how the State’s utilities plan to meet the challenge of a more carbon free energy mix.
• AEE Perspective – Dr. Wayne Turner will offer insights on where we have come and are going based on his experience as founder/director of the Industrial Assessment Center (Oklahoma State University), broad experience in energy management, and as past president of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) where he is in AEE’s Hall of Fame and edited ENERGY ENGINEERING, a professional Journal of AEE.
• Lunch
• On-the-Ground Perspectives – Laura Rip, Energy Project Manager (National Western Center) will discuss application of energy saving technologies in this renewal project, and point to future opportunities
• Hygroscopic Cooling for Reduced HVAC Water Consumption – Dr. Christopher Martin from the Energy & Environmental Research Center (University of North Dakota) will discuss mitigation of environmental effects from power generation including minimizing water use within energy conversion processes. He has been the principal investigator on previous Department of Energy sponsored research projects into the hygroscopic cooling concept.
• Break with snacks
• Advanced Building Envelopes – A panel including Shanti Pless, Commercial Building Research Group (NREL) and Allen Becker, Field Operations (Milender White) will discuss emerging technologies for improving building envelopes.
• Summary of students’ work/topics – A panel of this years’ scholarship applicants will highlight their work on such new technologies as a catalyst for solar powered water splitting or a 50 MW wind turbine.

Raffle and Energy Jeopardy (stay tuned for details).

Social hour following Forum (stay tuned for details)

3:30 p.m. wrap up