WVU responds to industry boom with New Energy Institute
From an Article by Sarah Tincher, State Journal, September 20, 2014
West Virginia University announced September 15th the creation of the WVU Energy Institute, an effort to establish a powerful network of expertise in energy research and education in response to the increasing role and importance of energy in the state and the world.
Focusing primarily on fossil energy, sustainable energy, energy policy and environmental stewardship, the facility, which will be headed by WVU energy researcher Brian J. Anderson, will connect the university’s existing energy efforts and respond to new opportunities, enabling faculty to conduct research and pursue larger and multidisciplinary problems, solutions and funding opportunities.
“Access to affordable, clean energy is one of the most complex and far-reaching issues of our time,” said WVU President E. Gordon Gee. “Energy is a key driver of our state’s economy and economies around the world. It affects the health and quality of life of the world’s citizens.
“WVU has built up tremendous momentum in the area of energy research,” Gee continued. “It permeates so much of what we do here, from educating our students to making new discoveries in faculty laboratories to the way we manage and build our facilities. The Energy Institute will allow us to take that expertise beyond our campus to benefit the state, the nation and the world.”
In addition to furthering faculty research opportunities, the Energy Institute will help WVU make connections both within and outside of the university, including the university’s National Research Center for Coal and Energy and the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
The institute also will work with WVU’s Office of Technology Transfer and Office of Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Commercialization to help faculty take their energy innovations through the commercialization process.
“Through the Energy Institute we can link all of the diverse work being done by researchers on campus,” said Provost Joyce E. McConnell.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
General Electric Earmarks $10 Million for Penn State University Projects
GE to give $10 for “gas drilling” projects at PSU
Penn State University said today that General Electric Co. will give the school up to $10 million to create a new center for natural gas industry research. Penn State President Eric Barron said the center will produce tangible benefits to the industry, to communities that are affected by drilling or related activity, and to consumers.
GE said the money will support research projects, equipment, and undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellowships at The Center for Collaborative Research on Intelligent Natural Gas Supply Systems. Barron planned to speak about the center during a luncheon with GE Senior Vice President Mark Little. GE is based in Fairfield, Conn.
The new center will include faculty from the Colleges of Business, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology.
Charles Whiteman, dean of the Business College, said the center opens up “great new opportunities for research” on real-world problems. Whiteman said that over time the project could lead to more efficient drilling and gas distribution, reduced pollution, and even lower prices for consumers. He said Penn State will be able to hire new faculty members for the project and that a couple of dozen teachers plus students will be involved each year.
The Marcellus Shale is a gas-rich formation that lies deep under large parts of Pennsylvania and nearby states. A drilling boom that began in 2008 has made the Marcellus the most productive natural gas field in the nation, but also has led to concerns about air and water pollution, leaky pipelines, and local zoning authority.
GE said the money will be donated over the next five years and earmarked for different uses. The company will also have engineers in residence to work with faculty and students.
NOTE: GE manufactures and sells various electrical equipment including gas turbines for the generation of electric power from natural gas. Two or more gas turbine power plants are under development in PA and one in WV at the present time. In addition, many drilling companies are converting from diesel oil to natural gas firing to conduct deep drilling and hydrofracking activities. DGN
Point Your RSS Reader to FrackCheckWV.net/feed/
