SEES Programs and Activities: SEES is an educational professional energy society that meets six times a year to learn about regionally-relevant energy topics: energy production, conservation, and marketing; legislative & regulatory developments; new products, technology, and government programs.
|
Photos courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, www.nrel.gov
|
The primary purpose of the Southeastern Energy Society is to advocate and to promote a greater
awareness of competitive energy generation options and to provide a forum for discussion,
education and exploration of relevant industry issues.
Southface Sustainable Atlanta Roundtables
|
Southeastern Energy Society
Covering the Southeast from Atlanta
Southface's Sustainable Atlanta Roundtables (SARs) are held
the first Friday in each month at Ellis Hall, All Saints
Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA
30308. To RSVP for roundtables, call 404/872-3549 or
register on-line.
For other Southface events, check the Southface calendar.
SEES Spring, 2013, Meetings
|
To RSVP for meetings, please contact Alston and Bird (404) 881-7761,
fax (404) 253-8593 or e-mail janice.shaw@alston.com with your name, company and phone
number. Directions.
Fall, 2012, SEES Meetings
|
Alston & Bird's Climate Change and Carbon Management Blog
|
Alston & Bird's Climate Change and Carbon Management
team has launched a blog which focuses on rapidly
emerging issues associated with greenhouse gas
emissions.
Missed any meetings & would like to get the presentation materials? Click here. Need professional development documentation? Click here.
|
Webcasts, Blogs, & Publications
|
The US has large deposits of natural gas. A process
called "fracking" (hydraulic fracturing) may enhance
the ability to capture this gas, but is this process
safe? Read Ken Silverstein's overview: "Fracking:
Get the Science Out."
A recent poll on EnergyBiz found that 97% of those
responding thought that shale-gas developers
should be required by law to tell communities what
chemicals they are using to extract, or "frack”
because of drinking water considerations.
Natural Gas is a Burning Issue
Ken Silverstein, EnrgyBiz, Oct. 5
According to EnergyBiz, flaring of natural gas found
alongside oil deposits in is a major problem. A
study by the World Bank says that 5.3 trillion feet
of natural gas is flared each year--about 25% of the
natural gas consumed in the US and roughly 30% of
the gas used in the EU. That same study also
concluded that global gas flaring releases about 400
million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Science of the Summer Olympics: South African
sprinter Oscar Pistorius is the first double-amputee
athlete to compete at the Olympics. At the 2012
Summer Olympics, Pistorius raced using a pair of
carbon fiber prosthetic legs engineered to store and
release energy from the impact of his strides.
Wind power currently provides nearly ten percent of
Germany's demand for electricity. The German news
agency, Deutsche Welle, takes an in-depth look at
wind energy, both existing and the potential for
further development of wind energy worldwide.
As a state that imports nearly all of the energy
used there, South Carolina continues to
explore the opportunities for "home grown"
renewable resources. The third annual South
Carolina Clean Energy Summit was held on July
18th in Columbia.
state of South Carolina, as well as job creation and how to keep both energy dollars and
talent in the state. The keynote speaker was Former Congressman Bob Inglis. Other
speakers included representatives from in-state electric utilities and government
agencies, political experts, and researchers who shared their vision and expertise on how
South Carolina can play a role in this growing sector. Their presentations can be found on
the South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance's website. (Please scroll down to find
links to the presentations). Presentations from the 2011forum are available on the SC
Biomass Council's website.
The 35th annual World Energy Engineering Congress was held October 31st through
November 2nd at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The conference focused
on how the economic and market forces, new technologies, regulatory developments and
industry trends all merge to shape the energy and economic future. The 20120 WEEC also
featured a showcase of sustainable technologies, as well as speakers with a variety of
backgrounds, including Gen. Colin Powell, NBC Correspondent Ted Koppel, Former
President Jimmy Carter, Ahmad AlSa'adi, VP of Gas Operations at Saudi Aramco. More . . .
November 19th -- Steven M. Jackson, Senior Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer, MEAG Power provided an update on the Plant Vogtle
project.
October 15th – Hank Linginfelter, Executive Vice President, Distribution
Operations, AGL Resources provided an update on the future directions that
the natural gas industry is taking.
September 17th – Doug Moore, Principal Engineer, Energy Services, Electric
Cities of Georgia (ECG), provided an update re the GE SMART grid project
for the City of Norcross. The utility’s 4,200 customers will get lower meter
management costs, quicker outage management response and quicker
restoration times. It also sets them up for advanced energy management,
like demand response capabilities, electric vehicle integration, and advanced
distribution requirements.

The 16th annual Greenprints conference was held March 13th and 14th at the Georgia Tech
Research Institute in Midtown Atlanta. This year's speakers included Rob Watson, the
"Founding Father of LEED;" Bill Reed, AIA, LEED, former board member of the US Green
Building Council; Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, FAICP, Director of the Metropolitan Research
Center at the University of Utah; and other leaders in the field of sustainability.
Converting a Class 7 or 8 diesel truck to run on a combination of natural gas and diesel is
now a feasible alternative for companies trying to reduce fuel costs and “green” their
fleet. Several companies have achieved EPA approval to convert certain engines to “Dual-
fuel” by adding natural gas tanks and engine technology to displace a major % of diesel
with natural gas. To learn more, plan to attend this event at AGL Resources, 10 Peachtree
Place Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30309. The cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.