This week at the Energy Symposium, Mike Sloan, President of Virtus Energy Research Associates, will lead a discussion titled, "Which Costs Less to Power Our Future: Fossil Fuel or Clean Energy?".
Speaker bio: For the past 30 years, renewable energy consultant Mike Sloan has helped governments, universities, and industry develop innovative policies that have greatly expanded use of solar and wind power. While managing the regional trade association, The Wind Coalition, Texas became the leading wind power state in America, increasing installed wind capacity 200-fold in 10 years. With Mechanical Engineering degrees from Notre Dame (B.S.) and the University of Texas at Austin (M.S.), Sloan played a leadership role crafting highly-acclaimed policies for renewable energy and proactive transmission development (GreenChoice, RPS, RECs and CREZ) and served Governors Richards, Bush and Perry in statewide efforts for energy planning and job creation. Mike has been a foster parent and advocate for 8 years, is passionate about Texas History and organic farming, and dabbles as an aspiring writer.
Talk abstract: Which Costs Less to Power Our Future: Fossil Fuel or Clean Energy? Many feel they know the answer, but what should be included? Excluded? Does math play a role in "the Truth"? During these contentious times, the speaker hopes to launch an ongoing dialogue, challenging those of varied opinions to engage, to explore this important, potentially transformative, question. Just maybe, what starts here, changes the world.
The UT Energy Symposium will meet every Thursday during the fall 2019 semester.