After recently attending the 2011 Clean Energy Venture Summit, I’ve become inspired by our alma mater’s role in green technology innovation and the surrounding entrepreneurial economy. A week prior to attending this summit at UT’s AT&T Conference Center, the Texas Tribune hosted a policy festival at the same location with notable speakers such as, T. Boone Pickens. Like many alumni, I’m proud to learn UT is becoming a center point for energy policy discussions and innovative strategies to develop efficient energy use for our nation’s future.
At the Clean Energy Summit, we learned our university has developed 3,000 strains of algae for companies to pilot test energy extraction potential. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is also sponsoring a project to develop jet fuel, known as JP-8, for military use from biological sources. This involves $25 million in sourced funding.
As university biologists and engineers engage in this research and development, it’s inevitable, “gap fuel,” discussions will ensue. Gap fuels are what T. Boone Pickens (with me, right) described at the Texas Tribune Festival as necessary fuel to bridge the gap from archaic and heavily pollutant energy sources (oil and coal) to fully non-pollutant energy sources. For Pickens, a welcomed Oklahoman onto UT’s campus, he described natural gas as gap fuel touting three benefits, “It’s cheaper than current energy sources, more abundant and domestic.”
Hydraulic fracking, a water-intensive drilling process that fractures rock to release natural gases, was a subject of debate at the Texas Tribune Festival. Pickens, along with U.S. Senator John Cornyn at the policy festival, disputed data reports and environmental activist claims of fracking’s (supposed) cause for minor earthquakes and detriment to water aquifers. While the Texas Tribune Festival admirably debated the issues and policies around fracking, the Clean Energy Summit showcased companies with missions aimed to make fracking safer, more cost effective and more resource efficient.
It’s fitting our university is a partner in coalescing thought leaders in public policy, energy industry and innovative technology. These are arenas of intellectualism, analysis and entrepreneurship that shape our future, alter our markets and affect our livelihoods. Every McCombs alumni and fellow Longhorn can stand proud knowing our campus attracts gatherings that change the world, but we should never stand idle. Let’s give, participate and offer our resources to ensure UT remains a leader in these critical energy and technology advances.
