On Thursday, March 17th, I joined my colleagues from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at MIT’s campus for a people-and research-focused EERE University Day event. Hosted by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) – a hub for energy research, education and outreach – the day provided an opportunity for MIT students and faculty to learn about key energy issues aligned with EERE’s mission, accomplishments, and research. This event was especially exciting for Dr. David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and me as we returned to a familiar campus.
In his keynote presentation, Dr. Danielson began the day by discussing the critical need for innovation to address the world’s clean energy and climate change challenges. He told students that energy had to be reinvented and explained that the aggressive climate and energy goals set by the administration demonstrate confidence in the work done at EERE that will continue for years to come.
Throughout the rest of the day, the event featured panels covering topics such as sustainable transportation, renewable energy, grid modernization, energy efficiency, clean energy entrepreneurship, and advanced manufacturing. Dr. Danielson and I stressed the importance of cross-cutting initiatives and technologies to achieve the maximum impact for the U.S. taxpayer. I used my time on one of the panels to discuss clean energy and manufacturing in terms of a nexus of solutions to challenges relating to security, the economy, and the environment. AMO’s role is to leverage strategic investments to bridge the innovation gap and catalyze the adoption of these solutions in the private sector. I also provided examples of ways for students to get involved while they were still in school through AMO programs like Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs), which train the energy engineers of tomorrow while simultaneously providing free energy assessments to small- and medium-sized manufacturers who otherwise may not be able to allocate overhead energy management programs. IACs provide students with hands-on, real world experience, giving them a valuable skillset as they enter the workforce after graduating. Many employers aggressively seek out graduates of the IAC programs. Not only do these programs give students a competitive advantage in the job hunt, they also fulfill critical industry needs and enable the U.S. manufacturing sector to remain a world leader in clean energy technologies. My key message was that success means energy products invented here and made competitively here. Students like those at MIT and at other institutions across the country will play a huge role in the continued success of clean energy in the U.S.
EERE Day closed with a networking reception and student poster session. This gave students an opportunity to establish contacts within EERE, ask questions about clean energy career paths in a more intimate setting, and share their excitement about current projects they were working on with DOE experts. It was refreshing for me to see the passion these students had for their projects and made me nostalgic for my years on campus. Events like this bring together the energy leaders of today with the leaders of tomorrow and build excitement about innovation and our energy future. In order to remain a global leader in clean energy innovation, we must continue to engage with and invest in the next generation to enable us all to reach our full potential.
For more information on the event, please visit the MIT Energy Initiative website.
