Events

8:00 – 9:00         Breakfast, Registration, U-M Student Poster Presentations

9:00 - 9:30         Welcome, Conference Goals, and Motivation

                           Moderator:  Adam Simon, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan

                           Guest speaker:  Valerie Brader, Law School Adjunct Professor, University of Michigan

9:30 – 10:45       University of Michigan “Clean Wolverines” Sustainable Energy Options and Pricetags

                           Moderator and Intro:  Steven Skerlos, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan

                           Solar Energy Generation Modeling with 3D: Elena Essa, Student, Statistics, University of Michigan; Lydia Whitbeck, Student, Program in the Environment, University of Michigan; TBD, Landscape Architecture, University of Michigan

                           Biodigester Feasibility: Lydia Whitbeck, Student, Program in the Environment, University of Michigan; Logan Vear, Student, Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan; Elena Essa, Student, Statistics, University of Michigan

                           Geothermal Pricing: Lydia Whitbeck, Student, Program in the Environment, University of Michigan; Andrew Hatt, Student, Program in the Environment, University of Michigan

                           Low Carbon Transportation: Jim Gawron, Graduate Student, Business Administration and Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan; Andrew Hatt, Student, Program in the Environment, University of Michigan

                           Multi-source Campus Microgrid Potential: Nathan Houghteling, Student, Mechanical Engineering; Paul Giessner, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan

                           Power Purchase Agreement Potential: Grant Faber, Student, Business Administration, University of Michigan

                           Campus Pledge for Carbon Neutrality – Julian Hansen, Student, University of Michigan

10:45 - 11:05     Break

11:05 – 12:15     Low-Carbon Energy Plans from Big 10 and Selected Universities

                           Moderator:  Andrew Berki, Director, Office of Campus Sustainability, University of Michigan

                           Panelists: Ann Erhardt, Director of Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Sustainability, Michigan State University; Mike Shelton, Associate Director – Comprehensive Energy Management, Ohio State University; Ximing Cai, Associate Director for Campus Sustainability, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign; Kathia Elizabeth Benitez, Sustainability Director, Northwestern University

12:15 - 1:30       Lunch and U-M Student Poster Presentations

1:30 – 2:15         Green Energy Perspectives from Municipalities

                           Moderator:  Mark Lindquist, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Michigan

                           Panelists: Eric Coffman, Chief - Office of Energy and Sustainability, Montgomery County, Maryland; Nathan Geisler, Energy Programs Analyst, City of Ann Arbor

                           Presentation: Will Arnuk, Student, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Spanish, University of Michigan

2:15 – 3:00         Break          

3:00 – 4:00         Panel: Partnerships for the Transition to Renewables

                           Moderator:  Joseph Arvai, Max McGraw Professor of Sustainable Enterprise; Professor of Environment and Sustainability; Professor of Business Administration, University of Michigan

Panelists: Dave Harwood, Director of Renewables, DTE Energy; Brandon J. Hofmeister, Consumers Energy; Soam Goel, Parnter for Special Situations, Anbaric Development Partners; Kevin Self, Schneider Electric, Senior Vice President Strategy, Business Development & Government Relations; TBD, John Givens and Gregg Garbesi, ENGIE; Andrew Marino, Carlyle Group, Co-Head of Carlyle Global Infrastructure Opportunity Fund; Telva McGruder, Director, Global Facilities, General Motors

4:00 – 4:15         Break

4:15 – 5:00         Closing Session

Moderator:  Jonathan Overpeck, Samuel A. Graham Dean, Professor of Environment and Sustainability; Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan

Closing: Adam Simon, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan

SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACT

In 2011, the University of Michigan made a commitment toward achieving 25% GHG reductions of 2006 emissions levels by 2025.

Should the University of Michigan consider a target beyond 2025? If so, what would the planning process for achieving a more ambitious goal look like?

Ann Arbor is #1 per capita in clean energy patents nationally, and U-M is the home of a host of disruptive thinkers working in energy, sustainability and planning.  What if— with the participation of students, U-M leadership, industry, and our partner municipality— the university were to become a living lab working toward carbon neutrality?

During this one-day symposium, we will:

·      Brief all key stakeholders of U-M and the Ann Arbor community about standing greenhouse gas emissions goals and progress towards them. We’ll also discuss broadening those goals.

·      Invite other universities, municipalities and private sector companies to discuss their sustainable energy aspirations and progress

·      Hear from faculty and students about sustainable energy options being explored/analyzed across the Michigan campus

·      Hear from industry and other experts on options they see for U-M green power

Specific deliverables include cultivating a shared awareness of what might be possible for greenhouse gas emissions reductions going forward, the development of a draft plan, and a post-conference white paper for dissemination to campus leaders.