UAS Spring Forum: Sustainability and Juneau Energy

The workshop will involve several presentations, demonstrations, and roundtable discussions that explore this challenge, positing technological and social solutions to the problem of achieving energy sustainability.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: March 28, 2008

Brought to you by the UAS Sustainability Committee, in conjunction with the International Polar Year

Friday, April 4th 8:00am to 5:00pm
Location Egan Lecture Hall, UAS Campus

For the past few years, the UAS Spring Forum has provided an opportunity for the Juneau and campus communities to come together to learn about important issues, engage interesting questions, and challenge our assumptions.  This year promises to be no different: a full slate of interesting panelists will present ideas, roundtable discussions will provide opportunities for everyone to engage, and we think you'll walk away with some new perceptions and questions.   We are adding one wrinkle for 2008: focus.  Instead of the broadly conceived notions that have given the Forum direction over the last few installments, this year we want to roll up our sleeves and take on one specific issue: energy use in Juneau. This year's Forum will turn to Juneau as a case study to ask an important question facing many Alaskan communities: what will it take to achieve environmentally acceptable and sustainable electricity power generation?  The workshop will involve several presentations, demonstrations, and roundtable discussions that explore this challenge, positing technological and social solutions to the problem of achieving energy sustainability.

Topics include:

• Local and global perspectives on sustainability
• Peak oil
• Hydroelectric Power vs. Fossil Fuel Burning
• Prospects for renewable energy in Southeast Alaska
• Impacts of climate change on runoff and hydro-electric potential in Juneau
• Biodiesel Production
• University of Alaska Southeast efforts toward becoming sustainable

In preparation for the Forum, we ask that you take an online Sustainability Survey, the results of which will be presented at the Forum.

To access the Forum Schedule, online info, and distance viewing links, please go to UAS Sustainability Forum Homepage.