Materials for a Sustainable Energy Future
I try to attend the annual University of California at Santa Barbara Summit on Energy Efficiency, now in its 4th year. This year’s meeting will focus on “Materials for a Sustainable Energy Future.” I plan to “join the Institute for Energy Efficiency and leaders from industry, academia, national labs and government to hear insights into the materials challenges, opportunities and latest developments relating to key technologies impacting energy efficiency.”
Outgoing Energy Secretary Steven Chu is speaking at this event, and, since I approve of him generally, I’ll make an extra effort to check out the talk. When we think of the unlovely convergence of energy and politics, it’s hard not to think of what Chu, a person of both passion and intellect, would have done had he not been handcuffed by the will of special interests. In fact, I may simply ask this question and see what happens.
In the past, the event has proven to be a strong one in terms of networking opportunities. In 2011, I met an extremely senior executive at Southern California Edison who subsequently set me up with two different contacts in her organization relevant to the adoption of the advanced energy storage solutions which I favor.
Also, it’s hard to beat the venue: the Fess Parker resort on the beach in Santa Barbara. Those old enough will remember the late Fess Parker as the actor who portrayed frontiersman Daniel Boone on television in the 1960s. I bring this up because Boone had a kind of strength that is almost completely absent in our elected leaders today. When the subject of the removal of the Indians from the Southeast was brought up when he served as U.S. Representative in the early 19th Century, Boone reportedly told his fellows in Congress that if they went ahead with this that he would cease to consider himself to be an American.
Strong stuff. Looking for that level of bravery today? Good luck.
If anyone in the region wants to meet for a cup of coffee, please hit “contact” and let me know.
