Message from the Director

The award winning Twentieth Symposium on Energy in the 21st Century pioneered bringing together in discussion leaders of Corporations, Environmentalists, Labor and Government. It was incredibly successful, with a packed house of 200 and many attendees on zoom as well. The speakers were outstanding.

With the effects of climate change becoming more real and more prevalent, a major issue for The Twentieth Symposium on Energy was to encourage all major sectors, Labor, Environmentalists, Corporate & Manufacturers, and Government leaders, both state and federal, to come together to discuss the serious steps needed to mitigate this tremendous threat to our existence as we know it. Although each sector might have to compromise in order to achieve mitigation, we all must work together to achieve the goal of cutting the use of fossil fuels and replacing them with renewable energy sources. U.S. Corporations will need to work with labor, as well as to commit to environmental protection; environmentalists will have to accept the needs of our labor force as well as the need to keep business in our country; and citizens will need to do their part in reducing consumption and accepting and understanding the needs of U.S. companies and our workforce. We also need and expect those we elect to focus on legislation and laws to create a climate where business can thrive, workers can earn a livable wage, seriously protect the environment, and all this without putting at risk underserved communities. Subsidies for renewable energy sources and uses need to be funded and fossil fuel production needs to be lessened if we are to the slow the effects of climate change.

At this point we are going way too slowly for us to save our planet, but with discussions and compromises such as were discussed, we all came out with a positive feeling that mitigation is possible.

During the last twenty years of the Symposium, we have been able to watch the growth of renewables like wind and solar, and each year we learned about other possibilities being seriously worked on. This year we heard about new solutions being developed such as the use of clean hydrogen and major thermal energy.

Those who attended the Symposium on Energy in the 21st Century on April 12, 2024 left with a positive feeling for the future. We all need to be part of the solution, or we will remain part of the problem.

Our speakers came from all over the country, and we would like to thank our sponsors without whom we could not have held this Symposium nor run Energy21.

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Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Rhea