CleanTX Forum: Power Generation for the 21st Century

May 20 2009 5:30 pm
May 20 2009 8:30 pm

“American society , with a standard of living unprecedented in human history, can also attribute a large measure of its success to increasingly sophisticated uses of energy. The strength of industry, the speed of transportation, the myriad of comforts and conveniences of home and workplace, and the security of a nation all derive from ever more ingenious provision and application of various sources and forms of energy.”
What you need to know about Energy?
The National Academy of Sciences

When electricity customers flip the switch, they expect the lights to come on. Even more, consumers want electricity that is affordable and non-damaging to the environment. Maintaining these expectations for reliability and affordability in the face of a rapid changes to our energy system will be a daunting challenge. Most experts agree there will be no “silver bullet” for America’s growing energy needs but instead an energy mix that considers our nation’s security while maintaining sustainability and environmental responsibility. In this panel, experts will discuss and explore the sources and uses of the many forms of energy that we currently use for electricity such as renewables, coal, natural gas and nuclear. Topics will include:

  • What is Austin Energy’s current energy mix and what how will the energy menu change in 5, 10 or 15 years?
  • Will we have enough affordable energy in the near future and at what cost to our environment?
  • How are new laws governing traditional forms of energy changing the industry?
  • Will renewables ever be a baseload source of power?
  • What is “clean coal” and how does it improve plant efficiency?
  • What is distributed generation and how important is it to meet demand and maintain reliability?
  • Is Nuclear the low-carbon fuel of the future?
  • Is the electricity system an obstacle to greater use of low-carbon fuels, or an opportunity?

    While you ponder these questions, please take the time to log on to our panel partner’s website, Power Across Texas and run through TIPS-Texas Interactive Power Simulator a program developed by The University of Texas at Austin. TIPS will help you see and understand the impacts and tradeoffs among the different energy supply sources we have in Texas.

  • Comments

    sliberman's picture

    What is the location for

    What is the location for this meeting?

    mrabeaux's picture

    The event will be held at

    The event will be held at the MCC building 3925 West Braker Lane
    Austin Texas, 78759.

    Melissa Rabeaux
    Marketing Communications, ATI