{"id":205495,"date":"2023-10-05T07:30:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T11:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=205495"},"modified":"2023-10-05T08:44:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T12:44:15","slug":"opportunity-lights-up-uconn-sustainable-energy-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2023\/10\/opportunity-lights-up-uconn-sustainable-energy-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Opportunity Lights Up UConn Sustainable Energy Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, University President Radenka Maric and former White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy all agree that decarbonizing our electrical grid is an opportunity to create a more prosperous future.<\/p>\n

The three, along with other government, municipal, and industry leaders, spoke at the inaugural Sustainable Clean Energy Summit, hosted Oct. 4 by UConn and Eversource in the Student Union. Lamont set the stage by discussing all the state\u2019s strengths in green energy, and its major challenge: convincing its citizens that investments in clean energy, a sustainable grid and transit will pay off.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018I\u2019m all in favor of a green future, but not if it costs me a dime\u2019 \u2014 we have to work on that\u201d sentiment, and sell the vision of a cleaner economy to our fellow citizens, Lamont said.<\/p>\n

The University president had an answer for that: lead by example.<\/p>\n

\"President
President Radenka Maric speaks during “The Sustainable Clean Energy Summit: Decarbonizing Society and the Grid” at the Student Union Theater on Oct. 4, 2023. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMake no mistake – UConn is going to hit its decarbonization goals and become a national leader in sustainable clean energy research and education,\u201d Maric said. UConn has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030. The University has taken significant steps toward that goal already, including installing hydrogen fuel cells, enhancing efficiency of the onsite cogeneration power plant, and diverting food waste into compost and renewable energy production.<\/p>\n

UConn students have also taken up the decarbonization challenge. Six teams chosen for funding by the Clean Energy & Sustainability Innovation Program in June<\/a> presented brief overviews of their work at the summit. The teams had spent the summer devising ways to reduce the University\u2019s carbon footprint, foster environmental justice and prepare for climate extremes. Those teams presented brief overviews of their work at the summit and the winning team was announced: Austin Gelinas \u201925 (ENG) and Pranavi Rebala \u201925 (CLAS) proposed a two-part strategy to reduce the New England grid\u2019s heavy reliance on natural gas, using UConn as an example in their winning project “Enhancing Connecticut\u2019s Green Economy: Comprehensive Short and Long-Term Approach to Renewable Energy Transition.”<\/p>\n

President Maric praised the interdisciplinary nature of the work students have done on this and announced a new goal, to create an academic unit dedicated to sustainability. She said the University is looking for industry and government support to build this unit, similar to the partnership UConn has with Eversource.<\/p>\n

\"Gina
Gina McCarthy, former White House national climate advisor, gives the keynote address during “The Sustainable Clean Energy Summit: Decarbonizing Society and the Grid” at the Student Union Theater on Oct. 4, 2023. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gina McCarthy, the former White House Climate Advisor and keynote speaker at the summit, praised UConn\u2019s partnership with Eversource, and the advantages it gives to UConn students and researchers who work with Eversource on projects related to climate and grid sustainability.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want you to think you\u2019re going into a world of disaster. I want you to see this as a world of change,\u201d McCarthy said, addressing the students in the room. \u201cClimate change is the biggest opportunity of our future\u2026the benefits of a clean energy future are simply enormous,\u201d including good jobs, a cleaner environment, and a more prosperous country overall. She noted that the federal Inflation Reduction Act, made law in 2022, was specifically designed to incentivize renewable energy projects and has been very successful.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, who represents Connecticut’s Second Congressional District in Washington, also mentioned the Inflation Reduction Act during a video call in to the summit. Courtney noted that private investment in infrastructure has increased much more than initially projected when the Inflation Reduction Act was passed. The private sector has announced more than $110 billion in clean energy manufacturing investments, according to the White House.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Austin Gelinas ’25 (END), left, Pranavi Rebala ’25 (CLAS) present their research on an iterative approach to renewable energy transition during “The Sustainable Clean Energy Summit: Decarbonizing Society and the Grid” at the Student Union Theater on Oct. 4, 2023. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Such private investment has benefited Connecticut, which has a skilled workforce. A roundtable discussion on grid decarbonization that included executives from Eversource Energy and smart home developer Savant Systems, as well as the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, and state Rep. Jamie Foster, emphasized the opportunities for UConn students and researchers to influence policy and engage in the state\u2019s efforts to reduce reliance on greenhouse gases. Two other panels with Avangrid, Eversource Energy, CDT Energy, GE Appliances, Tesco Automation Solutions, Dominion Energy, HexStream and the state Department of Economic & Community Development discussed the numerous job opportunities available for students interested in clean energy and decarbonization of the grid.<\/p>\n

As McCarthy, who has a long history of addressing climate change and energy working for many different administrations, including former Gov. Jodi Rell, said, \u201cGood things can get done when people listen to each other, and talk about the future and the good things we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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