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Howdy!
Welcome to the May 2012 issue of News Briefs, the Texas A&M Energy Institute's e-newsletter. News Briefs is intended to keep you informed about all the good things going on in energy research at EI and Texas A&M University as well as state, national and international energy-related news that affects all of us.
If you have any questions, comments or ideas for future issues, please contact Lisa Groce at 979.458.1644 or tamuenergy@pe.tamu.edu.
We encourage you to forward News Briefs on to your friends and colleagues. If you aren't already a subscriber and would like to receive our monthly e-newsletter, please click the "Join our Mailing List" button on the lower right.
Thank you and Gig 'em!
Steve Holditch
Director, EI |
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Left to right, Robyn Pearson (EI), Taylor Morrison (Energy Club), Congressman Bill Flores, Lisa Groce (EI), Steve Balint (Chairman, OTC Board of Directors), Stephen Graham (OTC Managing Director) |
Energy Institute Exhibits at Offshore Technology Conference
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For the second consecutive year, the TAMU Energy Institute sponsored a booth at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston April 30-May 3. Attendance at the conference reached a 30-year high of 89,400, the third highest in show history and up 14% from last year. The exhibition was the largest in its history.
Staff from the Energy Institute and the Research Valley Partnership, along with student members of the TAMU Energy Club, manned the booth and informed visitors to the booth about energy research at TAMU and
ways in which they can work with our researchers and access our labs and facilities. Booth staff also distributed information about other offices, facilities and programs at Texas A&M such as the Career Center and the Office of Admissions.
A highlight of the exhibition was when U.S. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) visited the EI booth and posed for photos with staff members (photo above).
On Wednesday, May 2, EI hosted a private reception at Reliant Stadium in conjunction with the Research Valley Partnership and various other entities including the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA). The reception was attended by about 200 people, including Congressman Flores, and garnered mention in the Houston Chronicle's online energy blog, FuelFix (http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/05/03/the-differences-between-men-of-otc/). |
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Growing Texas: Water, Energy, Ecomonic Development Conference October 3-4, 2012 | |
Mark your calendars now to attend the Growing Texas: Water, Energy, Economic Development Conference! The conference will be held October 3-4, 2012 at the College Station Hilton & Conference Center.
The Energy Institute is partnering with the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), the Texas Water Resources Institute, the TAMU Student Energy Club and the Texas Center for Applied Technology (TCAT) to host the conference.
More details coming soon! |
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TAMEST Hosts Texas Water Summit | |
The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST), The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas System hosted the 2012 Texas Water Summit (Securing Water for Texas' Future) May 20-21 at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin. The event kicked off on Sunday, May 20, with a dinner and keynote speech by The Honorable Mark Strama, Texas State Representative (District 50).
Scientists, politicians, and water-utility leaders came together at the conference to discuss Texas' water security - in the midst of an ongoing drought. Monday's agenda featured statewide leaders on water issues such as state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, San Antonio Water System's CEO Robert Puente and Robert Mace of the Texas Water Development Board.
According to an article by Matthew Tresaugue at Chron.com, "Water planners, policy experts and scientists said Monday at the Texas Water Summit that they do not expect lawmakers to address increasing water demands when they convene in January because the most populated areas no longer are in severe drought."
"It was hot for awhile, but we kept our lawns green" in the big cities, like Houston, said Ronald Kaiser, professor of water law and policy at Texas A&M University. "Less than 1 percent of the population was in position to be cut off. It's the small communities that are most at risk."
Kaiser said lawmakers should not waste "a good drought" without regulatory changes. Previous dry spells have prompted the Legislature to build reservoirs, improve long-range planning and set aside some of a river's flow for nature's benefit.
Event sponsors included both The Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M University.
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Gas Explosion Hazards on Offshore Facilities Course August 20-21 | |
The Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center, in conjunction with GexCon, will be hosting a course on Gas Explosion Hazards on Offshore Facilities on August 20 - 21, 2012 at Texas A&M University. The course will feature a live large-scale demonstration.
Those interested in attending may register at http://engrevent.tamu.edu/event/100859 or call 979-458-1863.
For detailed information, see the course announcement. |
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TCAT's Michael Martin Speaks at EPA Conference | |
Michael Martin, a research engineer with the Texas Center for Applied Technology (TCAT), recently presented a briefing on energy and sustainability issues at the recent Federal Facilities Program Conference (May 8-9, 2012), sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region VI in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Martin was only one of two guest speakers presenting to approximately 50 attendees representing a dozen federal agencies in a region comprised of Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
Mr. Martin highlighted the connection between facility energy consumption and energy production at the point of generation. The first topic of concern is that as we currently build more energy efficient facilities through use of modern design and construction techniques, little attention is paid to the large quantity of existing building stock and the inherent inefficiencies in their decade's old design. These problems are compounded through years of neglect and poor maintenance. Until we improve operation and reduce energy consumption in our aging buildings we will continue to waste resources, and true sustainability efforts will be marginalized. The possibility of "brown outs" during recent, unseasonably hot summers has reinforced the need to use our resources more efficiently.
For more about Mr. Martin's presentation, click here. |
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Xie Receives ORAU Award | |
Dr. Le Xie, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).
The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards provide seed money for research by junior faculty at ORAU member institutions. These awards are intended to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty and result in new funding opportunities.
"I am very glad that our research is recognized through this competitive award," Xie said. "It's been an exciting time here at Texas A&M, where I was able to work with world-class faculty and students with diverse backgrounds to tackle some of the most challenging power and energy problems by use of advanced sensing, communication, data analytics, and control technologies, which are collectively referred to as 'smart grid' technologies.
"I look forward to continuing our interdisciplinary research and making real-world impact on the region and in the world."
To read the entire article, click here. |
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The Energy Institute (EI) is addressing the world's energy challenges through research, development and deployment. The Institute matches researchers and world-class facilities with internal and external partners to define and solve energy problems and turn those solutions into useful global products. |
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EI Student Employee Honored at Student Employee of the Year Ceremony | |
Alex Boyd, EI's student employee, was recently recognized as one of 38 finalists (chosen from over 100 nominations) for A&M's Student Employee of the Year Award.
Alex has worked for the Institute since April 2010 and is a May 2012 graduate of Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She plans to attend law school in the fall.
Thank you, Alex, for your hard work and dedication over the past two years and congratulations!
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| Contact us | |
Texas A&M Energy Institute
3372 TAMU
244 Wisenbaker
College Station, TX 77843
979.458.1644 |
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