WSU Tri-Cities Institute for Northwest Energy Futures convenes inaugural Energy Summit

The inaugural Washington State University Energy Summit, hosted by the WSU Tri-Cities Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF), was held on the Richland campus last month. It included representatives from nearly all of the 26 energy-related entities within the WSU system. Attendees represented centers, labs, institutes, schools, departments, and programs system-wide. The event was the first time they had all gathered together in 20 years.

The energy ecosystem represented at the Summit included everything from theoretical research into nuclear fusion to social science surrounding building efficiency, and the boots-on-the-ground activities happening through Extension offices and the Energy Program.

"Reaching across our silos today was an important step in our integrated systems approach to a clean energy future," said Noel Schulz, INEF's inaugural director and Bob Ferguson Endowed Professor.

To facilitate introductions and information sharing, the Summit began with flash talks, focused discussions and time for networking. Participants quickly recognized the value of the event and the Institute. Randy Thorn, energy engineer with the WSU Energy Program, remarked, "This is additive [the Institute and its activities are] not organized because things are broken. This is about what can we leverage - entity to entity rather than person to person."

The afternoon session included longer presentations from the Washington State Departments of Commerce and Ecology, informing participants about potential opportunities for WSU to assist with studies, reviews, and evaluations. In addition, Georgine Yorgey, the new director of the Energy Program, was recognized as the newest addition to the INEF leadership team.

Several themes emerged at the Summit and were underlined the following day at the workshop with the Energy Program. Opportunities across the energy ecosystem were identified for:

• cooperation in research and field demonstrations
• creating and sharing educational resources for community engagement
• a shared community benefits plan that includes best practices for Tribal relations
• seminars exploring energy-related topics
• fostering the future energy workforce by developing educational pipelines and mentorship programs
• internal and external energy-related communication channels sharing up-to-date information, public perception trends, and funding opportunities

Moving forward, INEF will play a leading role in energy-related projects by prioritizing, assessing, and guiding opportunities and endeavors strategically and promptly.

Following the Summit, most participants attended the ribbon-cutting and open house reception for the new INEF building where they shared their research and ideas and networked with local government representatives, WSU leadership, and the community.

"The momentum is here; we have the expertise and passion to keep it going," Schulz said.

Visit INEF's website for more information about INEF and the energy entities represented at the Summit.