“The Energy Summit is about bringing different people together to think through some of the most difficult challenges of our time,” says Tracey Holloway, University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of environmental studies and chair of this year’s Energy Summit.
Organized by the Wisconsin Energy Institute, the 2015 Energy Summit “Air & Energy: The Path Ahead for U.S. States,” will be held at Union South on the UW–Madison campus on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.
Susan Hedman, a three-time graduate of UW–Madison and current Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 5 Office in Chicago, will be the keynote speaker. Since 2010, Hedman has directed EPA operations in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and has led implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a multi-agency effort to restore and protect the Great Lakes.
“The Energy Summit’s timing,” says Holloway, “is perfect for discussing some big changes coming this year to the air quality world.”
One of these changes is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan, a major new policy to regulate carbon dioxide.
“The issue of carbon dioxide emissions is definitely going to reshape a lot of important connections between the energy sector, the transportation sector, consumers, and air management organizations,” says Holloway. “And it’s a transformation that’s already happening – decisions are already being made, laws are already being passed, permits are already being applied for – so the time to work together is now.”
Holloway also emphasizes the importance of a new ozone limit to be announced by the EPA on October 1, just two weeks before the Energy Summit.
Concurrent panels will focus on topics such as the Clean Power Plan, meeting the new ozone standard, U.S. air pollution beyond U.S. borders, the potential for satellite data in supporting air regulation, buildings and energy efficiency, electricity reliability, and the emerging role of biofuels.
Summit panelists will represent the diverse perspectives of government agencies, industry, and research institutions. And students, faculty, industry leaders, regulatory representatives, and researchers are all encouraged to attend.
Register here for the 2015 Energy Summit, “Air & Energy: The Path Ahead for U.S. States.”
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