Great Plains Center of Excellence hosts inaugural conference on clean energy and workforce development

Great Plains Center of Excellence hosts inaugural conference on clean energy and workforce development

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | [email protected]

The Great Plains Center of Excellence convened its inaugural conference at the Hamm Institute for American Energy in Oklahoma City.

Held on Sept. 9-10, this landmark event attracted 100-plus participants from various states, including Washington, D.C., Texas, New Jersey, Colorado, Missouri, and California. It brought together experts, industry leaders and educators to discuss advancements in the clean energy sector.

GPCoE is one of five Centers of Excellence under the national Industrial Training and Assessment Centerprogram, funded by the Office of Manufacturing Efficiency and Supply Chain of the U.S. Department of Energy. These Centers of Excellence provide regionally focused support to enhance the impact of ITACs within their respective areas. Their initiatives include:

• Promoting best practices in small and medium-sized enterprise recruitment and implementation;
• Supporting the launch of extension IACs;
• Mentoring and training IHE IAC staff; and
• Encouraging collaboration with technical experts, local energy efficiency programs, manufacturers and other stakeholders;

The GPCOE also aims to innovate to further increase the national impact of the ITAC network by:

• Supporting specialized technical opportunities, including new assessment modalities or sector-specific projects;
• Developing curriculum and training materials for new ITACs, including extension ITACs.

Under the theme, "Connecting the Dots," the conference fostered engagement through panel sessions and discussions with industry experts.

"We selected the theme of 'Connecting the Dots' to cultivate new collaborations, partnerships, and access to valuable resources," said Dr. Hitesh Vora, GPCoE director.

One attendee described the atmosphere as "engaging, energized and overall, a positive experience," reflecting the enthusiasm and collaborative spirit among participants. Discussions explored current trends, emerging technologies and workforce development strategies crucial for advancing the clean energy industry.

"The breadth of participants from students and academics to private industry and nonprofits showcases the types of coalitions we need to advance the clean energy workforce," said Justin Smith, Industrial Training and Assessment Center network supervisor for the DOE. "Building these partnerships is a large part of why DOE's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains continues to invest in the ITAC program through institutions like Oklahoma State University."

In honor of OSU's recent Land-Grant Week, the GPCoE underscored its vital role in furthering the land-grant mission of OSU and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. The center's mission aligns closely with OSU's core values of accessibility, practical education and community service.

The GPCoE states that it is committed to providing education, research and outreach that addresses the needs of industries, local businesses and communities throughout the region. By facilitating student engagement and fostering partnerships with industry leaders, the GPCoE aims to develop energy-efficient solutions and develop workforce-ready graduates prepared to tackle the challenges of the modern economy. As part of OSU's land-grant mission, the center prioritizes sustainable growth and energy solutions that benefit not only Oklahoma but the entire Great Plains region.

"A heartfelt thank you is extended to John Cummins, executive vice president of product technology and investing partner at Hydrotex LLP, for delivering an insightful keynote address on the significant impact of proper lubrication on energy savings," Vora said.

Cummins highlighted that the total cost of friction and wear in 2023 was $2.336 trillion, noting that a mere 10% cost savings could be achieved through the correct lubricant applications, translating to approximately $233.6 billion in potential savings in the U.S. His presentation on lubrication science and its direct connection to energy efficiency and sustainability was enlightening and crucial for the future of industrial innovation.

With over 40 years in the chemical additive and lubrication industry, Cummins' extensive knowledge is unparalleled. As a prominent thought leader, he has contributed to various industry publications and taught over 300 public classes on lubrication excellence.

The conference featured five panel discussions, each focused on gaining expert insights into the workforce and economic development in clean energy:

• Panel No. 1: Justin Smith, Amanda Marcott Thottunkal, Kristina Wadley, Sharon Harrison, Trent Marlett and Andrew Peterson discussed the current landscapes of the energy management and efficiency sectors.
• Panel No. 2: Alexander Hessinger, Vi Rapp, Ryan Snow, Garen Ewbank and Kerry Rowland addressed emerging technologies, strategies and skill requirements for developing a future clean energy workforce.
• Panel No. 3: Kumar Mayank, Will Gibson, Claire Hicks, Matthew Graham, Kelsey Putman Hughes and Ashish Agrawal shared insights on maximizing partnerships and resources to advance energy efficiency and build the essential clean energy workforce of the future.
• Panel No. 4: Adil Khan, Bart Collins, Robert R. (Bob) Firth, Corey Williams and Jovette Dew discussed the critical importance of educating, training and retaining the next generation of the clean energy workforce.
• Panel No. 5: Kritika Bhandari, Sushmita Singh, Sheila E. Youngblood, Frankie Wood-Black, Kylah McNabb and Susmita Hazra highlighted the importance of providing professional resources and support organizations for student development.

The winners of the inaugural Energy Champion Awards, designed to celebrate outstanding contributions to energy efficiency across the Great Plains Region, are listed below. These awards honor individuals, organizations and projects that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to energy conservation, sustainability and, most importantly, fostering partnerships that create win-win situations for federally funded projects, including those under the ITAC and the GPCoE.

The Energy Champion Awards feature several categories:

1. Energy Champion Award - Non-Profit Organization:Recognizes nonprofit organizations that have significantly contributed to energy efficiency by fostering partnerships and collaborations. Eligible recipients include educational institutions, professional societies, utilities co-ops and other non-profit entities that have supported the deployment of ITAC and GPCoE projects. The winner for this category is the Association of Energy Engineers - Oklahoma Chapter.
2. Energy Champion Award - For-Profit Organization:Honors businesses and service providers that have demonstrated leadership in energy efficiency and have been key stakeholders in creating collaborative, win-win situations for implementing ITAC and GPCoE projects. The award winner is the Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
3. Energy Champion Award - Government Organization:Dedicated to government agencies and partnerships that have made outstanding contributions to energy efficiency and played a pivotal role in collaborating with other stakeholders to advance federally funded initiatives like those of the ITAC and GPCoE. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is the award recipient in this category.
4. Energy Champion Award - ITAC Alumni & Students:Celebrates the achievements of ITAC alumni and current students who have made significant contributions to energy efficiency through conducting energy assessments and fostering partnerships in the Great Plains Region. The ITAC Alumni Award goes to Will Gibson, while the ITAC Student Award is awarded to Abinash Kumar Gupta.
5. Energy Champion Award - ITAC Clients:Honors the most impactful energy efficiency projects from the last two to three years, particularly those that have successfully engaged multiple stakeholders to achieve significant energy savings and successful implementation. Notable winners include CymSTAR, Georg Fischer Central Plastics, and MTM Recognition for Industrial Assessments, and Choctaw Nation - Rubin White Health Clinic, Duck Creek Casino - Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Guernsey for Commercial Building Assessments.

With the success of the inaugural conference, the GPCoE plans to make this event an annual occurrence, with goals to expand its reach across its 13-state region. The conference aims to raise awareness of energy management, energy efficiency resources and DOE programming and funding while promoting education and workforce development within the clean energy sector.

"We extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible vendors who participated in and supported our conference, including U.S. EPA Energy Star, The Sustainability Alliance, DOE Onsite Energy TAP, HydroTex, EightTwenty Solar, EwBank GeoTesting, Guernsey, Techsico, ES2, CEAT K-12 STEM Programs, Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development, TransPower Company and Entegrity," Vora said.

"Their contributions were instrumental in making this event a success, and we greatly appreciate your partnership and commitment to making a difference. Additionally, we would like to recognize the dedication of our Conference Planning Committee - myself, Kerry Rowland, Kylah McNabb, Kumar Mayank, Shiela Youngblood, Heba Nazmy Jessica Stewart, Kyle Robison, Kimberly McSparrin and Amber Coker - and the Awards Committee - myself, Jessica Stewart, Mike McCombs, and Kyle Robison - for their immense contributions to organizing the inaugural GPCOE conference and ensuring its success."

The GPCoE invites all attendees to join future events at the GPCoE, where they will continue to explore the latest innovations in clean energy.

"Your participation is vital for fostering the collaboration and innovation necessary to shape the future of energy efficiency," Vora said.

For more information about the Great Plains Center of Excellence and future events, please visit the GPCOE website or their LinkedIn page.

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