Irving Institute to Hold Major Symposium on Energy Future

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More than 40 leaders in technology, policy, and finance will share鈥攙irtually鈥攖heir ideas.

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The first day of the symposium will include a conversation with U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman '78 (R-Ohio).
The first day of the symposium will include a conversation with U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman 鈥78 (R-Ohio). (AP Photos) 
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In its inaugural symposium on May 3, 4, and 5, the  will tackle one of the most urgent issues of our time: . This signature event reflects the institute鈥檚 distinctive model of leveraging societally driven needs to advance its dual mission to increase energy access while working toward a sustainable energy future.

The institute has virtually convened experts from across the United States and the world for the symposium to focus on a crucial energy question: How can we shape our energy investments to simultaneously provide adequate energy access to all people and address climate change to ensure a sustainable environment for future generations?

鈥淏ringing together the best and brightest of minds actively at work on this problem sets in motion the core principle of our institute,鈥 says , director of the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society. 鈥淲e view advances in energy technology within societal factors driving鈥攐r impeding鈥攖ransformation of the industry.鈥

Co-sponsored by the  at the , the conference will bring together more than 40 world-renowned leaders in science, engineering, finance, and public policy. They鈥檒l address, from multiple perspectives, investments鈥攈uman, financial, and technologies鈥攖o seek solutions through four broad strategies:

  • Investing to meet both increasing energy demand and climate targets
  • Fostering emerging technologies amid the changing fossil-renewables mix
  • Advancing social justice and global energy access
  • Developing energy leaders

鈥淥ur speakers鈥 roster reads like a 鈥榃ho鈥檚 Who鈥 in energy creation and policy today,鈥 says Wilson.

The work of the institute addresses the intersection of energy and society, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in transforming today鈥檚 energy systems to meet the needs of the future. Through educational programming, research funding, and the engagement of campus and community partners, the institute connects faculty and students from many different disciplines鈥攆rom the natural and social sciences to business and economics to the arts and humanities鈥攖o frame and examine the complexities of energy systems and transitions within the context of emerging societal needs.

Wilson and  will make introductory remarks. Other prominent 天美麻豆 administrators will make remarks and lead discussions throughout the conference, including , the Paul Danos Dean of the Tuck School of Business; Alexis Abramson, dean of Thayer School of Engineering; and Laurel Richie 鈥81, chair of the 天美麻豆 Board of Trustees.

The panels will convene leaders working at the highest levels of the energy sector, including many 天美麻豆 alumni, to engage in critical conversations.

David Turk, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Mary Nichols, former chair of the California Air Resources Board, will be featured in the opening conversation, moderated by April Salas, executive director of the Revers Center for Energy.

Subsequently, on May 3, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman 鈥78 (R-Ohio) and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), will lay out the political landscape in 鈥淎dvancing Bipartisan Energy and Policy,鈥 discussing bipartisan actions related to energy legislation. The conversation will be moderated by Dan Reicher 鈥78, partner at the Climate Adaptive Infrastructure Fund and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy.

The following panel, 鈥淭he Energy Transformation: Getting From Here to There,鈥 will feature four 天美麻豆 alumni: Abby Ross Hopper 鈥93, president and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association; Tom Kiernan 鈥81, CEO, American Rivers; Darren Peers 鈥96, analyst, Capital Group; and Brad Plumer 鈥03; climate reporter for The New York Times. That evening, Jamie Coughlin, director of 天美麻豆鈥檚 Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship, will lead a conversation with Julie Blunden 鈥88, board member of New Energy Nexus and the U.S. Energy Storage Association, and Russ Stidolph 鈥97, chairman of Eos Energy Storage, about opportunities for new ventures in this critical sector.

Financial strategies come into focus on May 4 with 鈥淢eeting the Challenge: Tripling Clean-Energy Investment Globally鈥 moderated by Jigar Shah, director of the U.S. Department of Energy Loans Program Office. This panel will convene with Dan Revers, Tuck 鈥89, managing partner at ArcLight; M. Elyse Allan 鈥79, Tuck 鈥84, chair of the Tuck Board of Advisors, former CEO of GE Canada, and a member of Brookfield Asset Management board of directors; Ray Wood 鈥84, managing director and head of the Global Power, Utilities and Renewable Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch; and Mindy Lubber, CEO and president, Ceres; and Sebastian Deschler, general counsel at CrossBoundary.

Also on May 4, Steven Doig, managing director of research at the Irving Institute, will moderate 鈥淪ustainable Energy for All,鈥 a panel featuring perspectives from NGO leaders working across the world. 鈥淚nnovation and the New Energy Economy鈥 will examine the most promising venture capital and corporate strategies used to satisfy the changing needs of our society and discuss how best to prepare future leaders in the energy-and-society sphere. The evening will be capped by 鈥淚nvesting in the Next Generation of Energy Leaders,鈥 where students will present their work in advancing new and innovating ways of thinking and developing solutions at the intersection of energy and society.

May 5 will bring discussions about social and environmental justice, moderated by Wilson, and featuring Dan Kalafatas 鈥96, co-founder and chairman, 3Degrees; Gilbert Campbell, co-founder and CEO, Volt Energy; and Rose McKinney-James, board chair of the Energy Foundation.

U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster 鈥78 (D-N.H.) will join a panel on 鈥淒riving Progress on Energy and Climate Policy,鈥 which also will include Phil Giudice, Tuck 鈥85, the Biden administration鈥檚 special assistant to the president for climate policy; Marsden Hanna, head of sustainability and climate policy for Google; and Tobias Schmidt, head, Energy Politics Group, ETH Zurich. The panel will be moderated by Norman Bay 鈥82, former chair of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The conference will include a program about the Arthur L. Irving Institute鈥檚 new home, now under construction, with remarks by President Hanlon and the institute鈥檚 principal founders, Arthur L. Irving, chairman, Irving Oil, Sandra Irving, and Sarah Irving 鈥10, Tuck 鈥14, vice-president and chief brand officer, Irving Oil. Other speakers include Roger Goldstein, principal, Goody Clancy; Rosi Kerr 鈥97, director of 天美麻豆鈥檚 Sustainability Office; and Geoff Parker, professor of engineering and director of the Master of Engineering Management Program, who conducts leading work in energy and platform economies.

Located at the end of Tuck Drive, directly between the Tuck School of Business and Thayer School of Engineering, the institute鈥檚 home reflects its dynamic mission to leverage the interdisciplinary learning that is emblematic of the 天美麻豆 education to inspire innovative thinking on this critical topic. The light-filled building will be the most energy-efficient structure on campus, and 天美麻豆 will seek LEED Platinum certification. Classrooms, research labs, and public spaces will draw faculty and students from across campus, as well as experts and practitioners from around the world. The building is slated to open this fall.

Notably, the conference鈥檚 concluding session will feature a discussion by James Coulter 鈥82, co-CEO and founding partner, TPG, and Bill Helman 鈥80, chairman and co-founder, Equal Opportunity Ventures and a former trustee, discussing the shifting landscape of the investment sector and some of the greatest opportunities and challenges ahead in the energy and climate area.

鈥淚nvesting in Our Energy Futures鈥 is open to the public, and  is required. 

Charlotte Albright