The Capital Region Energy Forum (New York State)

**CREF Speakers Bureau**
 
The following speakers welcome the opportunity to speak to area groups at no charge, and they tailor their talks to your audience. Their views are their own and not necessarily official positions of CREF. You may contact them directly for presentations to groups in the Capital Area. Discuss with the speaker the presentation date, time, place, and equipment that the speaker might need. Or you may contact Carol Possin, CREF Outreach Chair, at 518-370-2679 for additional information or assistance.
 
Joe Darling: “Energy Policy and Alternative Fuels”
Retired Department of Transportation, 40 years in transportation, consultant to governors and legislators on energy policy and alternative fuels, including electric vehicles, hybrids, CNG/LNG, biofuels, methanol, and fuel cell technologies. Email: darlingtransport@luckymail.com or phone 518-461-2641.

Peter Ford: “The Case for Nuclear Power in the United States”
(How nuclear power works, safeguards, economic and global issues)
PhD Metallurgy, Cambridge, UK. 35 years at GE working on materials problems in the nuclear industry. Member for 4 years of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which approves decisions made by the NRC that impact on the design and safety of reactors.  Consultant to nuclear utilities, national laboratories, and regulators worldwide. Email: fpctford@aol.com  or phone 518-399-3264
 
David Hauber: “Energy Conservation: Our Greatest Resource”
(Global energy consumption and efficiency goals)
Director of Technology, Automated Dynamics. 40 years experience in industrial R&D in automation and advanced materials. BS in Physics and MA in Business, SUNY. Email: dhauber@nycap.rr.com
 
Steven Leibo, PhD: “Climate Change”
Professor of International History & Politics at Russell Sage College, International Affairs Commentator for WAMC, District Manager Upstate New York & Vermont for
The Climate Project, author and editor of many academic and popular works. Email: leibos@sage.edu
 
Margretta Morris: “Solid Waste Management” (waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, waste to energy)
NE Director of Environmental Science and Community Affairs at Covanta Energy Corp. 20 years experience in integrated solid waste management, served on over 15 boards and commissions related to solid waste management, has presented throughout the USA and in Europe, including television, videos and radio. BA Physical Geography, Radford College. Email: mmorris@covantaenergy.com  or phone: 508-291-4456.
 
William Reinhardt:  “The Impacts of  Peak Oil on the New York State Economy”, “How to Prepare for Oil Depletion”, and “Conservation of Energy: Efficiency as Future Energy Supply”
Senior Project Manager, NYS Energy Research and Development Authority
Masters in City and Regional Planning, Rutgers, and in Energy Management and Policy, U Penn. 30+ years experience in energy conservation, development and management of industrial energy research projects, controlled environment agriculture, and hydrogen technology. Frequent speaker on global oil depletion, its effects on NYS industry and agriculture. Co-chair of Capital Region Energy Forum. Email: wreinhar@nycap.rr.com  or phone 518 369-8573.
 
Jim Smiley: “Understanding the Energy Crisis: Energy Sources for the Future” 
(An overview of the approaching energy crisis, an evaluation of alternative energy sources, and an analysis of realistic solutions to the energy problem)
PhD Nuclear Engineering, Penn State, MS in Industrial Administration. Worked at the Knolls Atomic Power Lab on nuclear plant design and advanced energy conversion concepts for 38 years (retired).  Email: jsmiley1@nycap.rr.com
 
Dan Smith: “Prospects for Hydrogen Fuel”, “Alternative Fuels”, “History and Future of Electric Power Generation” or other energy topics that can be tailored to a wide range of audiences. BA Physics, Cornell University, 35 years at GE Research (retired) managing technology development programs in advanced power generation equipment and systems including turbines, fuel cells, gas and diesel engines and energy systems. Email: smithdp@nycap.rr.com  or phone 518-882-9215.
 
Langhorne (Taury) Smith: “Climate Change”, “Carbon Sequestration”, “Peak Oil”, “The Straight Story on the Marcellus Shale” (argues in support)
Ph.D., Geology, Virginia Tech. Senior Scientist, Center for Stratigraphy and Paleontology, NYS Museum. His research aims at understanding oil and gas reservoirs, local tectonics, and climate change. Email: lmith@mail.nysed.gov
 
Ken Welles: “New Energy Sources for Transportation: Cars of the Future”
PhD in Applied Physics, Cornell. Physicist at GE for 33 years, 100 patents, researched fuel cell cars. Regular panelist on the WAMC Science Forum for 15 years. Email: k2backhoe@aol.com
 

Reports from the Field

Carl George visited the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in June of 2009.  Click here to download his report (in PDF format).

Local Alternative Energy Photos -- This page contains photos of energy efficient houses in the Capital Region taken by Lynn Rossini.

Some Energy Website Links

The Oil Drum's <http://www.theoildrum.com/> mission is to facilitate civil, evidence-based discussions about energy and its impact on our future.

Energy Information Administration  <http://eia.doe.gov>  is the major portal for 
up-to-date government data on energy supply, prices,  and various in depth analyses.

Whiskey and Gunpowder <http://www.whiskeyandgunpowder.com/> source for up-to-date financial editorial and insight into the effect finance has over the world of commodities, especially fuels.

Energy Bulletin <http://www.energybulletin.net> highly recommended daily digest of energy news.

Life After the Oil Crash <http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net>  Matt Savinar's site "Deal With Reality or Reality Will Deal With You"

Global Oil Watch <http://www.globaloilwatch.com>  Another good daily round up.

ODAC <http://www.ODAC-info.org/>  -- Oil Depletion Analysis Centre - characteristically aloof analysis.

ASPO <http://www.peakoil.net/>  --  Association for the Study of Peak Oil. Group started by Colin Campbell and other elder statesmen geologists.

ASPO USA <http://www.aspo-usa.com>  The USA site for the Association for The Study of Peak Oil.

DOE Alternative Fuels <http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/>  Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) is a comprehensive clearinghouse of data, publications, tools, and information related to advanced transportation technologies.

Peak Oil  <http://www.peakoil.com/>  A community peak oil portal.

Hubbert Peak of Oil Production  <http://www.hubbertpeak.com/>  This website provides data, analysis, and recommendations regarding the upcoming  peak in the rate of global oil extraction.

Bloomberg.com http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/commodities/cfutures/.html> lists market price-per-barrel of oil and other commodities.

James Howard Kunstler <http://www.kunstler.com>  Energy prophet James Howard Kunstler's web site.

Oil Depletion Protocol  <http://www.oildepletionprotocol.org>  This site describes a set of actions and policies for dealing with peak oil.

Post Carbon Institute <http://www.postcarbon.org>  has proposals and information aimed at getting society off fossil fuels

Energy Preparedness <http://www.energypreparedness.net> is a consulting firm focused on planning for energy disruptions.

Beyond Oil New York City <http://www.beyondoilnyc.org>  describes a report by the NYC Sierra Club on sustainable energy future for  New York City. 

C.R.E.F. email contacts...

By Laws - Proposing by laws changes. Codifying changes for inclusion in the Board Manual. Prepares reports once a year for annual meeting. Reports to Board.By Laws

Finance & Investment -Watching & prudently investing our assets so as to maximize growth with an acceptable level of risk. Prepares report for quarterly Board meetings. Reports to Treasurer.Finance & Investment

Fundraising - Actively soliciting contributions and grants to further our programs. Prepares report for quarterly Board meetings. Reports to Treasurer.Fundraising

Government LiaisonMonitors and interacts with local, regional, and national government agencies. Prepares report for quarterly Board meetings. Reports to Vice-President.Government Liaison

Legal -Coordinate with attorneys on legal matters. Initially seeking the IRS charitable organization status 501(c)3 status. Prepares report for quarterly Board meetings. Reports to Treasurer. Legal

Nominating -Solicit nominees for Board positions. Coordinate candidates’ platforms, prepare an election mailing to the membership, gather & count ballots in December, and prepare the election results announcement. Report at January meeting. Reports to Board. Nominating

Office - Open mail and direct correspondence to appropriate person or committee. Handle membership inquiries. Conduct membership maintenance including but not limited to: depositing checks in the bank. Coordinate the above business transactions with the Treasurer. Prepare & update a Board Manual. Reports monthly to the Board. Office

Publications - Oversee our publishing, whether it is a brochure, guide or book. Reports to the Vice-President. The following are subcommittees: Publications

Newsletter Editor - Solicit and write articles with an ability to condense (edit) as appropriate. Close communication with the Newsletter Publisher and Website Committee. Newsletter Editor

Newsletter Publisher - Responsible for the printing, collating, stamps, labels, and mailing. Publisher

Publicity – This subcommittee shall be responsible for press releases under normal circumstances. Publicity

Science Coordinator - The Science Coordinator considers the scientific questions and liaisons with experts in the respective field(s) of science. May make recommendations or offer an opinion to the Board. Review all science related proposals and projects. Prepares a report for the annual meeting. Reports to the Vice-President. Science Coordinator

Membership Committee - The purpose is to recruit new members (especially at various events and retain existing members. The membership committee will work with the office committee in greeting new members (possibly with a welcome letter) and assist with sending out renewal notices. Maintains a current membership list. Prepares a monthly report for the Board. Reports to the Board. Membershp Committee

Volunteer Value -The Volunteer Value Committee tracks the volunteer effort. Prepares a quarterly report. Reports to the Treasurer. Volunteer Value

Education -For the purpose of coordinating educational outreach to schools and other groups. Prepares a quarterly report for the Board. The Education Committee reports to the President. Education

Content Manager - Provide viewers with information about our organization and how to join. Website may or may not include all or portions of our newsletter, Board Manual, minutes of the last meeting and/or the next meeting’s preliminary agenda. Content Manager