IEE Activity Report
Snapshot
- Arranged Governor Ted Strickland's "energy tour" at The Ohio State University
- Coordinated a Biomass and Energy 101 presentation to the House Alternative Energy Committee
- Coordinated development of a proposal regarding energy efficiency and traffic management for Representative Jim McGregor
- Solicited proposals for $345,000 through the 2008 IEE Grant Enhancement Program and awarded $225,000 to 10 interdisciplinary faculty teams
- Sponsor and partner in campus energy and environment seminars
- Coordinated $80 million Ohio Research Scholars proposal focused on advanced energy in partnership with Case Western University, The University of Toledo and Ohio University. Secured $10.5 million in State funding for clean coal portion of proposal.
- Entered into an agreement with the Columbus Metropolitan Club to sponsor the three year "Fueling Ohio's Future" forum on energy
- Met with a delegation from Wuhan University to discuss collaboration between Wuhan and OSU around energy, including an energy workshop in China
- Advising student group on their participation in DOE’s 2009 solar decathalon
- Assisted Dr. Bill Mitsch with getting letters of support to classify the Olentangy River Wetlands Park as a Ramsar wetland of international significance
- Active participant in new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Program
- Helping make OSU a more sustainable campus
- Catalyzing student learning opportunities around energy and sustainability
- Active member of the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio
- Organizer for Energy Frontier Research Center funding opportunity
Governor Ted Strickland's OSU Energy Tour
On October 16, 2007, IEE arranged a tour for Governor Ted Strickland of some of OSU's top faculty researchers. Governor Strickland heard presentations from faculty members: Drs. L.S. Fan, Stephen Myers, Stephen Ringel, Giorgio Rizzoni, and Bob Tabita.
For a complete copy of the agenda and details about what Governor Strickland heard along with photos from the event, click here
Return to TopPresentations to the House Alternative Energy Committee
- In April, 2007, Dr. Gregory Washington presented an overview of energy issues to the members of the House Alternative Energy Committee. Dr. Jeff Daniels and Dr. Steve Slack then joined Dr. Washington in answering a wide variety of questions from the members of the Committee.
- In May, 2007, Dr. Bobby Moser gave a presentation about opportunities for turning biomass into energy.
- At the request of Chairman Jim McGregor, IEE worked with Dr. Benn Coifman to develop a white paper on opportunities for improving energy efficiency at traffic intersections. Chairman McGregor used Dr. Coifman's work to develop a section of his legislation, H.B. 357 designed to improve traffic management in Ohio.
2008 IEE Enhancement Grants Program
- IEE received 28 unique grant proposals from 28 departments covering 10 colleges. Click here to see the list of grants awarded.
Sponsor and Partner in Campus E&E Seminars
The IEE partnered with the Environmental Science Graduate Program for the 2008 Winter Quarter seminar series. The IEE arranged the following presentations:
Energy Scarcity and Our Future, Dr. Seppo Korpela, Professor of Mechanical Engineering Global Warming
Climate Change, Prevention, and Adaptation, Dr. Lonnie Thompson, Distinguished University Professor of Earth Sciences and Scientist at the Byrd Polar Research Center
Resilience and Sustainable Development, Dr. Joseph Fiksel, Executive Director, Center for Resilience
The Truth about Ethanol, Dr. Matt Roberts, Associate Professor Agricultural, Environmental & Developmental Economics
Personal Mobility in 2027: Energy and the Vehicles of Tomorrow, Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni, Director, Center for Automotive Research and Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The Environment, Polarization, Key Issues, and Where do we go from here?, Chris Korleski, Esq., Director, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Global Warming: What is the Role of Aerosols?, Dr. Barbara Wyslouzil, Professor of Chemical & Bio-molecular Engineering and Chemistry
Co-sponsored Bownocker Lecture:"Climate Tipping Points, the Threat to the Planet" by Dr. Jim Hansen, NASA on May 1, 2008.
Co-sponsored seminar: "Energy, a Global Challenge," by David Cahen, Chair in Energy Research, Weisman Institute of Science on May 9, 2008.
Co-sponsored seminar: "Sustainability in Higher Education," by Jim Merkel, Dartmouth College's sustainability coordinator on May 16, 2008.
Return to TopOhio Research Scholars Program Proposal: Advanced Energy Systems via Green Industrialization
The IEE served as the coordinator for a request to the State of Ohio for $37.5 million in funding to support advanced energy scholars at four institutions: The Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, the University of Toledo, and Ohio University. Given that this program required a 1:1 dollar match, this proposal would provide $74 million to support faculty working in the areas of clean coal, biomass/biofuels, photovoltaics, and energy storage. The unique aspect of this proposal is its focus on research exploration in the interfaces of the four major research thrust areas. In May, the Third Frontier Commission recommended $10.5 million in funding to support the clean coal portion of this proposal. Through this proposal, the College of Math and Physical Science will hire a world class researcher focused on carbon sequestration and strengthen its existing partnership with Ohio University in clean coal related activity. In addition, the IEE will coordinate a portion of funding from this proposal for clean coal related capital needs across the campus of Ohio State.
Partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC)
The IEE has partnered with the Columbus Metropolitan Club to sponsor a three-year forum on energy titled "Fueling Ohio's future". Through these forums, a wide range of central Ohio leaders from business, government and the public gather to learn and discuss the important challenges facing Ohio and the world. OSU faculty Dr. Lonnie Thompson , Dr. Matt Roberts, and Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni (presentation) have already given presentations as part of this forum. IEE Associate Director Kate Bartter serves on the planning committee for these forums.
Return to TopPartnership with Wuhan University
In December 2007, the IEE met with a delegation from Wuhan University delegation including its President, to discuss the formation of a collaboration around energy. President Liu Jingnan invited OSU to bring a delegation to Wuhan in fall 2008 to hold a joint energy workshop. The IEE is working with a planning committee made up of Dr. Larry Brown, Dr. Dehua Pei, and Dr. Surjaveet Sen to solidify the collaboration and plan the workshop.
Return to TopSupporting the Solar Decathlon Project
The IEE is a strong supporter of the OSU Solar Decathlon Team's (a part of The Ohio State University Sustainability Team) participation in the Department of Energy's solar decathlon competition.
Return to TopMaking the Ohio Wetland's Research Park (OWRP) a Ramsar Wetland
The IEE assisted Dr. Bill Mitsch with gathering letters of support from the Ohio Environmental Council, the Nature Conservancy and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to have the OWRP designated as a Ramsar wetland of international significance. The IEE also arranged a briefing on this important issue for ODNR Director Sean Logan in order to secure his support for the project.
Return to TopActive participant in new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Program
The Center for Automotive Research at The Ohio State University has launched a new program focused on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Electric Vehicles (EVs) and intelligent charging. The IEE is an active partner in this new program.
Return to TopHelping make OSU a more sustainable campus
The IEE is a partner in the new OSU Sustainable Fuels Task Force organized by Transportation and Parking. Members of this task force are exploring projects that will reduce fuel costs to the university, enhance the quality of fuels and limit maintenance in the long term, produce a quantifiable reduction in ecological impact and provide a living laboratory for innovative fuel research in the University community.
The IEE is working with UniPrint to develop and implement a comprehensive sustainable energy plan including an energy profile assessment, installation of a PV array on the roof, consideration of revenue generating electricity load response programs offered by the regional transmission operators.
The IEE is sponsoring (through IEE grants) student research projects at the Office of Energy Services and Sustainability aimed at assessing alternative energy and energy sustainability options for the OSU campus.
Return to TopCatalyzing student learning opportunities around energy and sustainability
The IEE is working with the Engineering Scholars Program faculty to develop an Alternative Energy Lab program for first-year engineering scholars. This includes advising the team and securing industry speaking/teaching and support.
The IEE is working with industry to develop and promote student learning/co-op opportunities and graduate student recruitment programs related to advanced energy and energy services. Current development work includes Energy Solutions, LLC and Bottomline Resources, Inc.
Return to TopUniversity Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio
The IEE is an active member of the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio, a coalition of 15 Ohio universities focused on clean energy research and policy development. The IEE served on the subcommittee which recently hired the first UCEAO Executive Director Jane Harf and facilitated a number of workshops at the recent UCEAO conference including acting as moderators and securing several industry speakers.
The IEE is also working with UCEAO and the Ohio Department of Development on a program to provide state cost share for collaborative Ohio university proposals to DOEs Energy Frontier Research Center program.
Return to TopEnergy Frontier Research Center Opportunity
The IEE held a "town meeting" focused on the Department of Energy's Energy Frontier Research Center proposal opportunity. Through this opportunity, DOE expects to fund over 20 projects focused on basic science breakthroughs in advanced energy at the rate of $2-$5 million per year for five years. Over 50 OSU faculty attended this meeting to hear more about the proposal requirements, institutional support and opportunities for collaboration. Following this initial meeting, the IEE arranged for a briefing focused on working with the national laboratories for the three teams that expressed interested in competing for this funding. The IEE continues to support the teams working on these proposals which are due on October 1, 2008
Return to Top