On Monday, September 23, 2024, UConn hosted the Sustainable Clean Energy Summit: Decarbonizing Society and the Grid in collaboration with Eversource. The event brought together over 300 UConn students, faculty, and attendees from state government, industry, and various organizations to discuss the future of sustainable energy.
The Summit featured a keynote address from Gene Rodrigues, U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Electricity, and included several thought-provoking panel discussions. Key milestones of the day included the announcement of the Connecticut Sustainable Energy Institute at Avery Point and the signing of a new three-year memorandum of understanding with Eversource to implement energy efficiency upgrades across all UConn campuses.
We also celebrated the achievements of UConn graduate students Zhiqing “Lucy” Li, Steven Matile, and Meshach Ojo, who were awarded the Clean Energy and Sustainability Innovation Program (CESIP) award for their innovative research on “Potential Micro-Hydropower Retrofits at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants.” Their project will receive additional funding from Eversource to support further exploration.
Key Takeaways from the Summit:
- Grid Reliability: The growing demands of artificial intelligence, transportation electrification, and overall increases in energy consumption highlight the critical need to maintain grid reliability.
- Accessible Clean Energy: The transition to a clean energy grid must be inclusive, with policies and investments that balance innovation and equity.
- Multifaceted Approaches: Building a cleaner, more resilient energy future requires the integration of advanced technologies and strong partnerships across sectors.
- Collaborative Planning: Effective transition to a more resilient energy system hinges on collaborative planning, partnerships between state and federal entities, and active engagement with academic institutions.
- Modernization Investments: Neglecting investments in modernization can lead to higher long-term costs, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
For a more detailed overview and additional highlights from this year’s Summit, please visit the CLEAN EARTH Laboratory website.