2013 Governor’s Energy Development Summit: Advancing our Energy Future
From how we fuel our cars, heat and power our homes and the effects on the air we breathe, the field of energy is continually growing, developing, and influencing the way we live.
The 2013 Governor’s Energy Development Summit: Advancing our Energy Future, will explore many issues in the field of energy. The summit will discuss the expansion, evolution, and influence of energy and facilitate discussion of Utah’s unique energy resources and related development.
The summit will be held January 10-11, 2013 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. It will cover conventional, unconventional, and renewable and efficiency related energy issues with topics that include, transportation, the future of nuclear energy, oil shale and the oil sands development in Utah, discussion about the Uintah Basin’s air quality and geothermal exploration in Utah.
“The purpose of the summit is to educate people why it makes sense to do business in Utah,” said Rob Simmons, manager of unconventional energy development for the Utah Office of Energy. “Utah’s diverse resource energy base lends to a unique economic advantage.”
Governor Gary Herbert will discuss the vital role energy has and will have in the economic success of the State of Utah. The summit will feature remarks from the CEO of Questar and chairman of the American Gas Association, Ronald W. Jibson, and James D. Ogsbury, the newly appointed executive director of the Western Governors Association. A keynote session at the summit will feature a discussion with Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Mike Lee and congressmen Robert Bishop, Jim Matheson and Chris Stewart.
With the help of this impressive slate of keynote speakers, the Governor’s Energy Development Summit will continue to be the critical energy forum in the Intermountain West. The summit will be an opportunity to examine key issues in the ever-changing energy sector leading to a better understand of the significant value energy adds to Utah’s world-class economy. This conversation will help position Utah for an exciting energy future that embraces a diversity of resources, and proceeds with a dual focus on responsible practices and economic growth.
The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) research and commercialization efforts have a large energy focus to facilitate and produce innovation and development. This includes carbon management research, biofuels, and most recently the development of a first-of-its-kind electric powered bus at Utah State University (USU) which will be seen at the summit.
Several representatives of USTAR’s efforts will be featured as moderators and panelist during the two day event. USTAR East Director Alan Walker will lead a panel discussion on how technology is changing the energy landscape and will also participate as a member of Utah Energy Research Triangle Initiatives discussion. Robert T. Behunin, vice president for commercialization and development at USU will lead a discussion featuring a new technology showcase which will also include Scott Hill, a USTAR researcher and associate director of the Bingham Energy Research Center. Behunin will also participate in the Research Triangle Initiatives discussion.
In addition, the summit will include a trade show with over 100 industry representatives and vendors associated with the energy industry. New the summit in 2013 is a series of energy related tours in facilities throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The tours include the Utah Geologic Core Research Lab, Little Cottonwood Canyon Hydroelectric Plant, City Creek Shopping Center, University of Utah Nuclear Research Reactor, and the Natural History Museum of Utah Rio Tinto Center.
With an expected 1,200 plus attendees the 2013 Governor’s Energy Summit is poised to be a great avenue to gain insight about the energy issues facing Utah, and the mountain west. Those interested in attending should visit www.energy.utah.gov. Interested parties are encouraged to submit relevant questions to energysummit@utah.gov. The Office of Energy Development will select from among those submitted to help guide either the discussion with Utah’s Congressional delegates or the most appropriate breakout session.