Comparative Energy Policies and Technologies in France and the USA
Comparative Energy Policies and Technologies in France and the USA
This conference will bring together representatives from academia, industry, government, and the media from the USA and France for a conversation about a variety of energy policies and technologies. The central thesis is that while France and the USA both share a similar set of concerns related to the abundance, safety, reliability, and cleanliness of energy, the two countries have taken very different approaches to achieving our respective goals (particularly, for instance, regarding how they have each dealt with nuclear and shale gas). Consequently, each country has different positive and negative results to share. This conference would seek to share best practices for solutions to the energy problem while educating participants about the problems and solutions and establishing a collaborative Transatlantic relationship. To this end, this conference will specifically seek to compare and contrast the energy landscape in the USA and France around four core topics: shale gas production; the grid (including nuclear, smart grid, renewables and energy efficiency); public policy; and media coverage. Sponsors: French Embassy, EU Delegation, US Department of Education, UT Center for European Studies, France-UT Institute, UT Cockrell School of Engineering, UT College of Liberal Arts Partners: French Consulate in Houston, TX; CleanTX Foundation in Austin, TX Agenda: 830 am Opening of the conference (Prof. Doug Biow, Director, Center for European Studies, UT Austin) 845 am Welcome and Opening Remarks (French General Consul) 900 am Panel I: Shale Gas Production and its Global Impacts 1030 am Break 1045 am Panel II: The Power Sector: Nuclear, Smart Grid, Renewables and Efficiency 1215 pm Lunch (included with conference registration) 115 pm Keynote: Dr. Scott Tinker (Director, Bureau of Economic Geology, UT Austin) with introduction by Dean Fenves, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin 200 pm Panel III: Energy Policy 330 pm Break 345 pm Panel IV: Energy Coverage in the Media 515 pm Wrap-up Comments (Dr. Michael E. Webber) 520 pm Closing Remarks (Dean Randy Diehl, College of Liberal Arts, UT Austin) 530 pm Reception Expected attendance: 200+ attendees, comprised of professors, students, and members of industry, government, and NGOs; the conference will be open to the public, but will require advance registration. Dissemination: The conference will be videotaped for later dissemination via the web.
