Observing the Year of Sustainable Energy for All in the Mid-Ohio Valley
This summer AHEAD Energy launched an effort to bring academic institutions and community groups in the Mid-Ohio Valley together to plan for the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2012 as the year for this important observance. It coincides with a new global initiative to achieve three major goals by 2030:
Finding ways to bring energy to people in the developing countries who currently lack access to life-enhancing energy will be a primary focus of the year. But transitioning to sustainable energy in developed countries is a major challenge to be addressed as well. AHEAD Energy’s offices are now located in Appalachia, a region that is a hotbed of activity a propos the energy future of the United States. Mountaintop removal coal mining and massive hydraulic fracturing of shales, such as the Marcellus and Utica, hold potential to meet a significant share of US energy needs for decades to come, while also providing revenue streams to struggling economies. At the same time, these technologies evoke considerable and often passionate environmental concerns. AHEAD will coordinate efforts at three institutions of higher education: Marietta College, Washington (County) State Community College, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Besides bringing outside experts to the area to speak, programs will include setting up a speakers bureau of local energy experts, films, tours, and hands-on activities involving college students and community members. A website has been developed to publicize events related to the Year of Sustainable Energy for All in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The URL is www.sustainable-mov.net. |