Brian D Oether For Us Senate issued the following announcement Sept 26.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Neil Chatterjee today announced the topics and several speakers for the first EnVision Forum, which will take place Oct. 21 at Kroger Field Commonwealth Tower at the University of Kentucky.
The EnVision Forum, jointly sponsored by FERC and the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, is an effort to gather thought leaders with new voices in the energy world to find solutions to the challenges posed by the market and fuel transitions that are changing the face of the energy industry.
“We want to start some new conversations with new voices and create relationships and understanding among the range of interests that are affected by this energy transition,” FERC Chairman Chatterjee said. “Launching the EnVision Forum in my home state of Kentucky, where we are seeing a wave of societal challenges due to the closure of coal plants and mines, was the logical first step for us to take.”
The day-long EnVision Forum will feature panels on topics ranging from workforce impacts to the intersection of telecom and energy policies, to climate, criminal justice and water-related issues. Participants are from the natural gas, electric, coal, nuclear, oil and renewable energy industries as well as from the telecommunications and water industries, international and scientific communities, environmental and consumer organizations, state regulatory agencies and labor unions, investment firms, think tanks and academia.
“We are honored to host a conference that reflects our commitment to expanding what’s possible, for our institution and beyond,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “UK is a convener of ideas and a catalyst for collaboration. We look forward to hearing from leaders across disciplines and industries, as we continue to work toward sustainable, long-term solutions for challenges related to energy and the economy. That’s our role as a major research institution; more importantly, it’s our role as the University for Kentucky.”
“The United States is undergoing a significant transition in our energy landscape, and our federal and state leaders are at the forefront of tackling these issues,” former FERC Commissioner Colette Honorable said. “Now more than ever, it’s imperative that we are engaged on the various opportunities and challenges facing each of us in this space, and that’s exactly what EnVision Forum seeks to do.”
“I want to thank Chairman Chatterjee for organizing this significant event,” said Tyson Slocum, Energy Program Director for Public Citizen. “I look forward to discussing the importance of having strong consumer and public interest protections as a necessary part of FERC-jurisdictional markets.”
“The topic of water-energy nexus is a top priority for the water sector, and we are pleased to be part of this timely conversation,” said Rob Powelson, Executive Director of the National Association of Water Companies and a former FERC Commissioner.
“We applaud Chairman Chatterjee for convening this important conversation. Microsoft looks forward to sharing our experience about how technology can enable and accelerate the transition to a low carbon and resilient energy future,” said Brian Janous, General Manager, Energy Infrastructure and Strategy from Microsoft.
“The law enforcement community is grateful for Chairman Chatterjee’s out-of-the-box thinking in also focusing this conference on the intersection of the opiate epidemic and the coal industry at both ends of our Commonwealth,” said United States Attorney Russell Coleman.
The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion two years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. The Chronicle of Higher Education judged us a “Great College to Work for,” and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers." We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for three straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.
Original source here.
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