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CREF NYS Energy

Next Program:

Monday, Sept. 20, 7:30pm 

College of St. Rose, Albany (see below for specific location and directions)

Speaker:  Jim Smiley

Topic: Understanding the Energy Crisis: Energy Sources for the Future

Dr Smiley’s long time interest in advanced energy sources and conversion efficiencies has lead to a deep interest in this country’s (and the World’s) political debate on how 1) to accurately characterize our energy situation, 2) assess the options based on the science, and 3) identify the solutions that are realistic.  Dr Smiley’s talk will put this large, complex issue in understandable terms and assess the various options based on their technical viability, not their “political correctness”.

Dr Smiley received his Undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from The Pennsylvania State University; a Masters Degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, and a Doctorate in Nuclear Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.  He also earned a Masters Degree in Industrial Administration from Union College in Schenectady.

His career was in the Design and Development of Nuclear Power Plants for the US Navy at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.  His primary area of interest was in the design and development of the new propulsion plants, advanced energy conversion concepts, and Research and Development of technology for future designs.  He retired from the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in 2001 with 38 years of service.  After retirement he was asked to be a member of the technical staff that investigated the Columbia Shuttle accident.  He and his wife reside in Clifton Park.         

 

Room Location:

Rooms A and B on the second floor of the Campus Center.

Directions:

Enter the CSR Campus Center on 420 Western Avenue and go to the middle of the building.    Take the elevator or stairs to the second floor.  The conference rooms are just to the right as you exit the elevator or stairs.

This program is co-sponsored by CREF (Capital Region Energy Forum), St. Rose College, and CEG (Center for Economic Growth)


 

The Capital Region Energy Forum (New York State)

The Capital Region Energy Forum is a group of concerned citizens in the greater capital region of New York State, including engineers, scientists, educators, and students, who have come together to develop a common understanding of:

  • The key energy issues facing the U.S. and New York State, within a worldwide context.

  • The urgency of each and the time frame in which each must be addressed.

  • The environmental, economic, and security challenges presented by each major energy resource and feasible approaches to meeting these challenges.

  • The technical approaches, including conservation, that can contribute to an enduring and stable balance between energy supply and demand.

To be added to the CREF Mailing list membership:
membership email address:

Membership is free, but donations are appreciated.
Tax deductable donations to support CREF - St. Rose Educational Activities

Mailing address: College of St. Rose
  Att: Dr. Richard  Thompson
  432 Western Avenue
  Albany,New York 12203-1490


Make checks payable to The College of St. Rose., and indicate 
“CREF” on the memo line.

Past Program - July 19, 2010 - College of St. Rose

Energy Conservation: Our Greatest Resource
David Hauber

Energy fuels the lifestyles of modern societies, but producting energy comes at a cost.  And that cost in increasing as easily exploited energy sources begin to be depleted.  The costs include the usual economic cost of production, but also there are significant costs to the environment, to national security and to the overall stability of our economy depending on the type of energy that we use. Even renewable energy has some of these added costs.  The bottom line is that the most economically effective response to the transportation efficiency comparisonchanging energy situation should not be just to substitute scarce energy resources with more plentiful ones, but should have a very significant component of using less energy overall.  Just one example of the potential for energy conservation is shown in the figure at the right.  This shows that substitution of rail for truck transport in appropriate situations can reduce energy consumption by a factor of ten.  In addition we can conserve energy by changing demand pattern toward goods and services that require less transport.  Overall, it is realistic to anticipate that energy demand could be cut by half or more through intelligent conservation while allowing a lifestyle that most would agree is fully as satisfying as the energy intensive lifestyle that characterizes the US today.

David's slides can be downloaded by selecting this link.

This program is co-sponsored by CREF (Capital Region Energy Forum), St. Rose College, and CEG (Center for Economic Growth).

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