BOONE – Appalachian State University’s Office of Sustainability is hosting its eighth annual Appalachian Energy Summit later this month, focusing on innovative sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives.

The event, slated for July 29-31 on App State’s campus, is presented under the theme “Creating a Resilient Energy Future” and includes presentations, panels, working groups and a mini Student Summit. App State’s Research Institute for Environment, Energy and Economics is hosting a networking event at Ransom Cafe, which is just off campus in downtown Boone.

A keynote event kicks off the summit on July 29 at 7:30 p.m. The speaker is Amory Lovins, cofounder and chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute, a Colorado-headquartered nonprofit that focuses on clean energy policy and research involving transportation, electricity, energy efficiency and other areas.

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Following his keynote address, Lovins will join a panel discussion with Sushma Masemore, the NC Department for Environmental Quality’s State energy director and deputy assistant secretary for environment, and NC General Assembly Representative John Szoka, who is also the chairman of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee and Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy. Jeff Ramsdell, an AppState professor and faculty in residence for innovation in teaching, will moderate the discussion.

Day 2 of the summit features panel discussions with representatives from other universities in the UNC System, as well as leaders and specialists from state energy departments. Working groups will focus on campus energy efficiency and design, academics and research, transportation, finance and regulatory models, and waste reduction.

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The Student Summit portion of the event takes place on July 30 and includes a series of working groups discussing green funds, campus sustainability initiatives, careers in renewable energy and climate action. There will also be a poster design competition.

On July 30, attendees will embark on a tour of App State’s clean energy initiatives, including the Nexus Project (a farming installation that combines solar and biomass heating systems), the Beech Mountain Small Wind Research and Demonstration Site, the campus’ sustainable gardens and composting facility, and other renewable energy programs.

Check out the full agenda here.

https://wraltechwire.com/event/appalachian-energy-summit/