UT Energy Week 2024
What Starts Here Energizes the World
Note: UT Energy Week attendees have the opportunity to earn continuing education units (CEUs) for professional engineering (PE) licensing requirements, provided by Texas Engineering Executive Education at UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering. You may indicate your interest in this option when you register for Energy Week.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28
The University of Texas at Austin:
Robert R. Rowling Hall (RRH), 300 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 AT&T Conference Center, 1900 University Ave., Austin, TX 78705
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8:00 – 8:30 |
Registration & Breakfast | |
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8:30 – 9:00 |
Morning Keynote – View PDF – View recording Laurie Fitzmaurice President, Carbon Removals, Drax Group |
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9:00 – 10:00 |
Panel: A Nuclear Carol: The Future of Nuclear via the Past & Present Perspectives of France, U.S., and Texas – View recording It has been nearly 30 years since the installation of a new nuclear reactor in France. In 2023, the United States witnessed the completion of its first (from scratch) nuclear reactor in 27 years. The last of Texas’ four reactors came online in 1993, and in Texas’ and other wholesale electricity markets, there is little near-term prospect for current commercial nuclear reactor designs to be economically competitive outside of a considerable carbon constraint or incentive. While in the European Union and U.S., the Ghost of Nuclear Present is not that which was hoped by the Ghost of Nuclear Past, the Ghost of Nuclear Yet to Come promises we don’t have to repeat past choices. New options are on the horizon. Will France maintain its nuclear leadership in the EU? Can Texas lead the U.S. in use of new nuclear technology? Join us to learn from the three experts of this panel (none of which are nuclear Scrooges).
Sunil Felix French Atomic Commission, U.S. Embassy (Washington, DC) Jimmy Glotfelty Commissioner, Public Utility Commission of Texas Dale Klein (Moderator) Former Commissioner of Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Professor, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin |
FREE COURSE Hosted by Texas Executive Education – Pecos Classroom, RRH 3.224 Decision Quality, Taught by Eric Bickel Uncertainty makes decision-making difficult, but knowing how to effectively navigate it is a sought-after business skill, especially as you acquire more authority and accountability in your role. In this session, Professor Eric Bickel will breakdown the science of what makes decision-making and forecasting difficult and the skills and mindset necessary to excel in these tasks. He will introduce a framework for thinking about decisions and discuss biases that can degrade the quality of our forecasts. |
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10:00 – 10:15 |
Break | |
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10:15 – 11:15 |
Panel: Decarbonization Strategies: From Science to Practice – View recording The operation of the modern economy is intimately linked to material and energy use, and global energy consumption remains dominated by a still-increasing rate of fossil fuel consumption. At the same time, the imperative to enact real reductions in carbon emissions grows more urgent every day, as carbon budgeting to meet 2 degree Celsius targets necessitates the use of unprecedented technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. In this session, panelists explore how organizations are embracing science, the physical reality of the economy, and the carbon reduction imperative to inform decision-makers within both public and private organizations. They also explore how perspectives might vary between the United States and the European Union.
Matthieu Auzanneau Executive Director, The Shift ProjectView PDF slides Dr. Faye Gerard Energy Transition Director, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers View PDF slides Matt McDaniel Engineering Project Manager, Carbon Direct View PDF slides Carey King (Moderator) Assistant Director, Research Scientist, Energy Institute, The University of Texas at Austin |
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11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
Energy & Climate Communications Fair Featuring lunch from Austin Rôtisserie & Sandwicherie |
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11:15 – 11:45 |
Energy Journalism Keynote – View recording – View PDF slides Justin Worland, Senior Correspondent, TIME |
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11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. |
Lunch | Energy & Climate Communications Fair Featured guests: • Alpheus Media • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport • Climate Fresk • Disco Learning Media • Energy Capital podcast • Hudson Pacific • Jackson School of Geosciences Office of Communications • Jones-Dilworth • Land Art Generator Initiative • Power Trip • Sun PR • Texas Almanac • Texas Energy & Power Newsletter • Texas Monthly • Texas Standard • UT Press If your company would like to participate in this event, email nora@energy.utexas.edu. |
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1:15 – 2:00 |
Panel: Energy’s Got an Image Problem—Can It Be Fixed? – View recording Lucy Atkinson Associate Professor, School of Advertising & Public Relations; Associate Director, UT Global Sustainability Leadership Institute David Iannelli Partner, Hudson Pacific Andy Uhler Energy Journalism Fellow for the Energy Institute at The University of Texas at Austin and the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University Russell Gold (Moderator) Senior Editor, Texas Monthly |
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2:00 – 2:45 |
Panel: ERCOT Grid Resilience & Distributed Energy – View recording As technology progresses, more distributed energy resources (DERs) are being deployed on the grid. These resources not only can reduce emissions but can also help improve the resiliency of electricity service to homes and businesses. This panel will explore questions such as: What are some of the technologies that are becoming economically viable? How do we make sure these DERs are available to the widest possible population? What are the foundational business models to enable better coordination of DERs (are DSOs needed)? And what are the funding sources (such as the Texas Energy Fund for backup power) that can accelerate deployment?
Bill Barnes Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, NRG View PDF slides John Padalino General Council, Chief Administrative Officer; Bandera Electric Cooperative View PDF slides Tiffany Wu Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI) View PDF slides Doug Lewin (Moderator) Founder, The Texas Energy & Power Newsletter |
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2:45 – 3:15 |
BETWEEN TWO CACTI WITH BRIAN KORGEL – View recording Insights about the Inflation Reduction Act Clean Energy Tax Incentives Luke Bassett (Senior Advisor and Director of Policy and Program Impact, IRA Implementation, U.S. Department of the Treasury) in conversation with Brian Korgel (Director, Energy Institute, The University of Texas at Austin) |
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3:15 – 3:30 |
Break | |
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3:30 – 4:00 |
Keynote: A Journey of Energy Entrepreneurship and Discovering the Solar Trifecta Omeed Badkoobeh CEO, Yotta Energy |
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4:00 – 5:00 |
Planet Texas 2050 presents Beautiful Energy: Public Art for Sustainable Cities – View recording In this session, the founding directors of Land Art Generator will share the theoretical framework and programmatic highlights from their innovative work at the intersection of art, infrastructure, and energy. Established in 2008, Land Art Generator focuses on the co-design of our energy future through international open-call design competitions, centering the integration of climate solutions and placemaking. Often this takes the form of large-scale public art as renewable energy infrastructure. In Houston, for example, the Arch of Time by artist Riccardo Mariano will be a regenerative and permanent sculptural installation that provides 400,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually to power neighboring homes. A panel discussion with public art expert Constance Y. White and Jim Walker, UT Austin’s Director of Sustainability, will follow.
Robert Ferry Founding Director, Land Art Generator View PDF slides Elizabeth Monoian Founding Director, Land Art Generator View PDF slides Constance Y. White Art + Music Manager, Austin International Airport Jim Walker Director, Office of Sustainability, The University of Texas at Austin |
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5:00 – 5:30 |
Keynote: Ensuring an Equitable Energy Future – View recording Anissa Rodriguez Dickerman, CEO, Pecan Street Featuring guest appearances from members of the Austin Youth Climate Equity Council, this special keynote presentation from Pecan Street CEO Anissa Rodriguez Dickerman explores the multifaceted realm of energy equity within the innovative landscape of Pecan Street, an Austin-based research and development organization that collects and provides access to the world’s best data on consumer energy behavior. Drawing from Pecan Street’s work pioneering data-driven initiatives in electricity consumption and leading groundbreaking research in water conservation, transportation systems, and soil carbon in agriculture, this session will explore the intersectionality of energy equity, economics, and societal impact, as well as the challenges and opportunities for a more inclusive and sustainable energy future. With insights into the federal Justice40 Initiative, unprecedented investments in climate and energy, and the burgeoning influx of talent and young people dedicated to transformative change, this session promises to inspire actionable strategies for academic researchers, industry, and youth to work together toward a more equitable energy paradigm. |
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5:30 – 7:00 |
Energy Institute & KBH Energy Center Evening Reception – AT&T Conference Center Courtyard | |
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