Alternative Energy Roundtable
Workshop
SUMMARY
REPORT
Summary Report
On September 8, 2008, EnviroKinetics,
Inc. and the Carver Community Organization Inc. presented an Alternative Energy
Roundtable Workshop at the Centre in Evansville, Indiana. The one-day workshop consisted of: 1) a Panel discussion for
industry experts who addressed key energy and environmental issues; 2) a Career Development session
for High School and College students; and 3)
an Exhibition
Hall showcasing innovative residential and commercial products, and demonstrations
on low-cost home energy saving tips on the emerging technologies in the energy
field. The workshop featured hourly raffles of energy saving
products and $50 gasoline coupon give-aways.
Carver’s
Environmental Resource Center, funded in
1999 by a US EPA grant, is dedicated to protecting the air, soil and water in
Southwest Indiana. Carver delivers
environmental information and services directly into communities. Through a partnership spearheaded by EnviroKinetics, it works to clean up
neighborhoods by promoting the efficient use of natural resources, energy
conservation and implementation of environmental protection programs. The
public participation programs are the creation of community-based policies,
plans, programs and projects that reflect a shared vision of the future. EnviroKinetics
assembled an exciting team of organizations, colleges and universities,
industry executives and state and local officials to exchange ideas and discuss
sustainable solutions to our current energy challenges.
The workshop included a continental breakfast. Participants attending the sessions were asked to sign in and were given the Alternative Energy Roundtable Workshop (AERW) evaluation survey. The survey form included a comment section on which attendees were invited to provide their suggestions to the questionnaire.
The
primary goal was for industry experts to share information and knowledge on a
broad range of energy conservation initiatives, renewable/alternative energy
resources and clean energy research technologies, as well as present an
overview of the enforcement and accountability of the US Environmental Laws
from the Federal and State levels. The Roundtable speakers included the
following:
Session I
Dr. Joanne Alexandrovich, Office of Ozone, Vanderburgh County Health
Department
Laura Ann Arnold,
President, Indiana Renewable Energy Association
Donald J. Challman,
Associate Director & General Manager,
Paul D. Medcalf,
Corporate Services Manager,
Workforce & Economic
Development,
Ivy Tech Community College
Session II
Dona Bergman,
Director, Evansville’s Office of
EPA
John A. Rupp,
Assistant Director of Research,
Indiana University, Geological Survey
Brad Morton, President,
Morton Energy
Kellie Walsh,
Executive Director, Central
Indiana Clean Cities Alliance, Inc.
The Career Development component of the workshop focused on
exposing students, recent college graduates, and residents to environmental and
alternative energy opportunities and initiatives. The Career Development component was the first step in a process
to increase participation and awareness of the environmental and energy fields
and to prepare students for gainful careers in the technical, industrial and
energy conservation fields. It allowed
an exchange between academia/local industry, students and residents to examine
interests and explore career possibilities. To highlight this event, a
scholarship award was presented to a high school student who embodied the
academic discipline, community participation and vision to continue the path as
a future environmentalist and/or scientist.
The workshop participants were
encouraged to visit the exhibit area that contained displays and hands-on
demonstrations. An E-85 Flex Fuel SUV
and a Solar Energy Trailer was showcased at the entrance of the Centre complex. Participants were encouraged to review the
handouts and ask questions. They were also encouraged to provide written and/or
oral comments. Over one hundred (100) residents, students and industry
professionals attended the workshop. The workshop received wide media coverage
from electronic and printed media outlets and met the projected number of
community and industry participation. (MEDIA included: WFIE 14 (NBC) / Evansville Courier & Press/ Our
Times Newspaper. Networks:
Chamber of Commerce, City of Evansville Minority & Women’s Business
Utilization Board, CECE (Midwest Region).
A total of 29 survey forms were collected on-site.
The
results of those 29 comments are presented as percentages of respondents
holding certain beliefs about a particular issue and/or view commonly held by
the respondents on specific topics.
These views should not be interpreted as having any “statistical”
significance in terms of the respondents being representative of a broader
segment of the population. Copies of
original survey results are available upon request. The following represents a
general summary of the citizens’ responses to the AERW Survey form.
Survey Results
1. How would you rate the Alternative Energy Roundtable
workshop? Ratings:
Excellent / Good / Fair
A total of twenty-nine (29) attendees
responded to the survey questions. Seventeen (17) or fifty-nine percent (59%)
indicated the workshop was excellent.
Twelve (12) or forty-one (41%) percent of the respondents indicated the
workshop was good.
2. Did any of the topics or speakers stand out?
Seven (7) respondents indicated Don
Challman’s subject matter stood out. Six (6) respondents indicated they enjoyed
Paul Medcalf’s presentation. Five (5) indicated Laura Arnold, four (4)
identified Talmond Haywood (Energy Audit Specialist) followed by Dona Bergman,
Kellie Walsh, Joanne Alexandrovich and Brad Morton. Respondents provided the following comments relative to the
topics covered:
Comments
·
Interests in the E-85 pumps and gasoline station
locations.
·
Speakers were very knowledgeable of topic and encouraged the
inquiry for consumers who were not conscious of good environmental practices.
·
Alternative fuel vehicles for municipalities.
·
All the speakers were very informative, interesting and
complimented the workshop well.
·
Don Challman’s and John Rupp’s graphics, while extensive,
were easy to follow.
·
Talmond Haywood's practical tips for conserving energy and
reducing utility cost were informative.
·
Interest in discussion on hybrids and flex fuel vehicles and
how it relates to air quality and ozone.
·
Brad Morton’s discussion on wind and solar products.
Vectren’s exhibit contained important energy saving tips and had informative
energy conservation representatives.
·
The Net Metering, Carbon Sequestration and Applied Energy
Research presentations were all very interesting and new subject matters.
·
Interest in Dona Bergman’s discussions on the City of
Evansville’s sustainability initiatives.
·
Interest in Paul Medcalf’s discussion on educational
potential at Ivy Tech Community College.
·
Useful energy conservation tips for residential use.
3. Would you be interested in future energy workshop?
Twenty-eight
(28) of the twenty-nine (29) respondents indicated that they would attend
additional workshops.
Additional comments
·
This should be a yearly event. Very informative.
·
Would like to see more information on renewable energy
businesses.
·
How private properties, both large and small, need wind
turbine or solar panels.
·
This was good for minority consumers who were a measurable
percentage of the workshop audience. Need
more information for the layperson.
·
All the presenters were interesting.
·
For future sessions, provide more time for audience
questions and answer and group discussions.
·
Please have this workshop again. Very well done.
·
Like to see more focus on renewable energy sources and
conservation resources.
·
Interested in learning more about residential energy
savings/ weatherization program at CAPE.
·
Really enjoyed the energy auditor’s energy saving
recommendations/tips
·
Sessions were too short.
I wanted to see entire presentation(s) versus just a few slides.
·
Interested in alternatives for how to save/reduce
energy/water usage.
·
Larger screen would have been an asset for the
presentations. Table arrangements could have been arranged better for audience
to be closer to speakers and screen. Sound was great, drinks and food was good!
·
Diversity of speakers was excellent. Great event for
networking.
·
This was an excellent cross-section of organization and
community interests on the alternative energy subject.
·
Maybe there can be hands-on projects, such as weatherization
and perhaps field trips.
·
This workshop is relevant to community groups as well.
·
Presentations were very informative with practical
information for lay persons.
Raffle Recipients
·
Gas Cards (Value: $50)
from Gas City, Ltd.
(10) workshop attendees received gas
cards:
Brian Hirshberg, Paula Lewis, Teresa
Armstead, Ruby McGlown,
Christine Bryant, Luther Mosley,
Verdelski Miller, George Anderson,
Walter Johnson, Carl Shepherd
·
Programmable
Thermostat
from Vectren Corp - Wayne Bigler
·
Solar Attic
Fan
from Morton Energy (Value: $350) Ellen Sprepski
·
Gift
Certificate
from Ivy Tech Community College (Value: $100) Ms. Debra Meriweather
Scholarship Recipient
·
Ebony Holmes, Harrison
High School senior and member of the Environmental Club, received a five
hundred dollar ($500) Education Scholarship from the Evansville Alumni Chapter
of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. The
scholarship is to assist her education in the field of environmental engineer
or science at Ball State University.
Survey Summary
As we embarked upon this initial
Alternative Energy Roundtable workshop, we implemented a three-prong approach
to heighten awareness, encourage participation and education of residents,
industry experts and students. However,
we still note the on-going challenges in implementing such projects, including
the following:
1.
The lack of previous comprehensive venues of this type (The
Centre);
2.
The amount of funding necessary to do an adequate job of
structuring and
coordinating
to develop and implement the various components
of this
workshop;
3.
The vast amount of time and grassroot outreach necessary to
encourage participation and education of adults and students.
Understanding that we have to walk before we run, this Alternative
Energy Roundtable workshop was presented as an initial
step toward the ultimate goal of making this an annual event. Specifically, we must state the following
calls to action to help continue this mission:
A Call to Evansville Residents – We need feedback
on how to make this initial event more useful.
Would regular workshops implemented by our partnership or some other
partnerships be supported? Would
further hands-on demonstration projects and field trips be helpful? What additional roles can residents/students
play in the process?
A Call to Academia – The survey results we collected suggest the lack of
general awareness by students, laypersons and minorities about the various
alternative energy and conservation technologies available. How does Evansville engage more students and
diversity in the emerging field of green technology?
A Call to Sponsors/Foundations – Additional
resources are needed to disseminate information and implement pilot projects in
a manner that will help the public and private sectors in Evansville address
sustainable issues and energy conservation.
Future plans are needed for community meetings, and other efforts to
help distribute information in order to help identify training and skills sets
required to successfully take advantage of emerging green jobs opportunities.
Also, to connect homeowners to the various alternative energy and conservation
resources available. Funding from the
foundation/sponsorship community is currently a missing element that can make this
a reality.
The cooperation between Carver
Community Organization and EnviroKinetics to produce and disseminate
information from this workshop shows an expansion of collaborative
capabilities. However, it is only a
first step on a long road of actions that must be taken to ensure the
development of an educated public, while addressing sustainability from an
energy conservation standpoint.
Alternative Energy Roundtable Workshop
SPONSORS & PARTICIPANTS
______________________________________
Mayor’s Office of Evansville
Vectren Corporation
Benton & Associates
Carver Community Organization, Inc.
CECE (Midwest Region)
Energy Systems Group
EnviroKinetics, Inc.
Environmental Justice
Lawyers’
Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law
FedEx Kinko’s
Gas City, Ltd.
Ivy Tech Community College
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
Dr. Byran Laura
Mason Brothers Funeral Homes
Morton’s Energy
MT2
Vanderburgh
County Solid Waste District