Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Connecticut energy symposium focuses on biofuels
By Diane Pauley
The Daily Campus (U. Connecticut)
04/02/2008

(U-WIRE) STORRS, Conn. — The Symposium on Sustainable Energy, which was held on both March 31 and April 1, attracted a great deal of attention — and not just from the University of Connecticut community. Students, administrators and even federal officials took the time to address energy concerns at the event.

UConn President Michael J. Hogan opened the symposium on Monday, March 31, promoting the University of Connecticut's ultimate goal of becoming a carbon-neutral campus.

Hogan had made this objective clear with the signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment last week

The Symposium addressed many different points, including both federal and state initiatives in sustainable energy. Numerous professors also spoke on various topics, including biofuels, fuel cells and solar energy.

Speaking on behalf of federal initiatives were U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney and John Larson.

Larson stressed the fact that "UConn will be a catalyst" in the arena of sustainable energy. She also noted that there is much "fuel cell research and development at UConn," and this is certainly something to be proud of.

Not only were there noted speakers on the first day of the symposium, but six in-depth workshops were conducted on the second, addressing such topics as biodiesel production, the development of a Connecticut biofuels industry and fuel quality testing.

The biodiesel production workshop consisted of "producing a 50 gallon batch of the fuel," according to the UConn Biofuel Consortium Web site. The workshop was hosted by Richard Parnas and Matthew Boucher.

William Leahy hosted a workshop about the development of a Connecticut biofuels industry. This was "an interactive workshop on steps needed to build a successful Biodiesel Industry in Connecticut," according to the Web site.

James Stuart and Paul Hoar hosted another workshop about biodiesel fuel quality testing. Each workshop went into more detail on the information that was presented on the first day of the symposium.

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