Media Advisory: National workshop to explore high and volatile energy prices

March 26th, 2008


TEXT -INDENT: -1in”> * WHAT :*

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>National workshop to address theImpacts of High and Volatile Energy Costs on Energy

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Intensive Industries: Coping Strategies and Future Research Needs


TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>WHO:

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Representatives presenting at the event are from the Massachusetts Institute of

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Technology, West Virginia University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Minnesota, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Virginia

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Kentucky, University of South

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Carolina, and the U.S. Department of Energy, among others.

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 9-Thursday, April 10


TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>WHERE:

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>WVUs National Research Center for Coal and Energy (NRCCE), Evansdale Campus


TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>WHY:

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>The price of a barrel of oil has crossed the $100 mark, and this is affecting a lot more

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>than just the price of a tank of gas. Likewise, the volatility and costs associated with other

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>energy supply sources, such as coal and natural gas, have had a significant impact on

TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>many U.S. industries.


From manufacturing to metals processing, transportation to food production, high and volatile energy costs are having a serious impact on production, supply, and prices across the nation.


Panel discussion topics include:


  • COLOR : black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in 1.5in”>Reasons for high and volatile energy costs
  • COLOR : black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in 1.5in”>What energy suppliers are doing to hold the line on energy costs and volatility
  • COLOR : black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in 1.5in”>Energy supply outlook
  • COLOR : black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in 1.5in”>Critical competitiveness issues facing industries

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”align=”center”>TOPICS OF MEDIA INTEREST


    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Wednesday, April 9

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>9:1510:30 a.m.: Energy supply panel

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Panel chair (Jeff Herholdt, WV Division of Energy), Fossil Energy Supply (Kenneth

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Kern, Department of Energys National Energy Technology Laboratory), Electricity

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>(Lester Lave, Carnegie Mellon), Council of Industrial Boiler Owners (Robert Bessette)

    • a.m.12:15 p.m.:* Industrial manufacturing industries panel

    Panel chair (Jason Blumberg, McKinsey), Food industry (Jean Kinsey, U. of Minn.), Paper industry (Jacquie McNutt, Georgia Tech.), Forest industries (Earl Kline, Virginia Tech.), Chemical industry (Barry Phillips, Bayer Corp.)


    1:152:45 p.m.: Materials industries panel

    Panel chair (Xingbo Liu, WVU -MAE), Metals processing industry (Cynthia Powell, Department of Energys National Energy Technology Laboratory), Steel industry (Ravi Madhaven, University of Pittsburgh), Aluminum industry (Subodh Das, University of Kentucky)


    3- 4:30 p.m.: Transportation industries panel

    Panel chair (Al Ebron, WVU -NRCCE), Trucking and Airline industry: Energy efficiency and renewable fuel potential (Valerie Thomas, Georgia Tech.), Airline industry: Financial perspective (William Swelbar, MIT ), Travel and tourism industry (Richard Harrill, University of South Carolina)


    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Event organizers are the WVU College of Business and Economics and the Industries of

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>the Future�€West Virginia Program of the WVU National Research Center for Coal and

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>Energy.The event is by invitation only. Participants were selected for their expertise in

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>energy-intensive industries, directors of the prestigious Sloan Industry Centers among

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>them. For a complete agenda for the event, visit

    TEXT -INDENT: -1in”>http://www.be.wvu.edu/news_events/energy_conference/