Tuesday, February 18, 2025
A Clouded Energy Outlook
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Opening Remarks
Opening Keynote: Emergent or Ephemeral: Macro Themes in Power
Paul Hudson, President, General Infrastructure •
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Panel 1: Geopolitical Ramifications of the Energy Transition
Beyond 2020, how will the energy transition reshape the geopolitical landscape?
The transition pits renewables against fossil fuels, potentially disrupting global power structures.
This panel explores whether power will shift from fossil-fuel exporters, if US-China dynamics will fracture geopolitics,
and whether nationalism will block cooperation and worsen the climate crisis.
William Inboden (Moderator)
- Morgan Bazilian, Colorado School of Mines • Slides
- Fred Beach, University of Texas at Austin
- Samantha Gross, Brookings Institution
Lunch Keynote Address
Daniel R. Simmons,
Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy (EERE)
Panel 2: Making Minerals Great Again
This panel explores critical minerals in the energy transition — from lithium and cobalt to rare earths — and examines
vulnerabilities in global supply chains, geopolitical implications, and how these materials might shape the future of clean energy.
Richard Chuchla (Moderator)
- John Thompson, PetraScience Consultants
- Roderick G. Eggert, Colorado School of Mines
- Diana Walters, Atmos Energy / Alta Mesa Resources
Panel 3: Fuels for Tomorrow’s Transport
As transportation evolves beyond petroleum, this panel explores how biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen could shape the next generation of mobility.
Kara Kockelman (Moderator)
- Terry Alger, Southwest Research Institute
- David Raney, Toyota Motor North America
- Zifei Yang, ICCT
- John Reese, Shell Oil Products US
Panel 4: Energy Development in Emerging Economies
Sponsored by Texas Law’s Institute for Transnational Law, this panel discusses the legal and policy challenges of building energy infrastructure in emerging economies under climate pressure.
Richard Amato (Moderator)
- Sean T. Long, Endeavor Energy
- José María Lujambio, Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton
- Carlos St. James, Voltabox
Student Research Competition & Networking Reception
Student Research Competition
Networking Reception
Panel 5: Energy Tradeoffs – Understanding Global Energy Needs
Hosted by the McCombs Energy Initiative, this forum discusses careers in energy and the need for collaboration across sectors to meet future demand.
- Richard Chuchla, UT Austin
- Reginald Devaul, BP
- Garry Morehead, Shell
- Tristan Aspray, ExxonMobil
Student Research Competition Awards Ceremony
Awards Ceremony