OU Beyond Coal Panel Extra Credit (revised)

After leaving the discussion panel tonight I definitely had a different outlook on the topic than I had going into it. Going into it I felt like changing out sources of energy was a great idea and needs to happen quickly. But, after listening to the panel speak, and mostly after the Q and A session I feel a bit less sure about the ease of the transition. Granted I still believe it needs to happen, and that it will work once the transition is started, I feel it will be a much more difficult road that I had originally had expected. I felt that overall the answers to most of the questions were very complex and I almost got the feeling that they know the subject well as scientists, but not yet well enough to put everything into lamen terms that any Joe walking down the street would at least have a slight understanding of the topic. I believe what makes me think this is the lecture about Charles Darwin last night. This being said because every biological scientist knew that organisms changed over time but that was it. Darwin took that and through expansive research and refinement was able to put the theory that forever changed science into lamen terms that it taught to almost every middle school student in science class. The other part I thought that was disadvantageous was where due to the snacks arriving late, they were passed out between the panel and the Q & A. I felt it would have been more beneficial for them to go straight into the Q and A while they had the audiences fresh attention.

On the positive side though, I was glad to see that cutting edge research in terms of alternative fuel sources are being studied right here at OU. It goes to show that OU has an interest and is one of the leading institutions that realize that an alternative source of fuel is needed before it is too late. I enjoyed listening to Mr. Stuart's and Ms. Botte's sections about algae and ammonia as a bio-fuel. I think this is mostly because I had never heard about the possibility of these being used to produce energy before. All I had ever heard about before was fossil fuels, solar, wind, water and nuclear. Where the fact that we could use our own wastes as a source of energy, instead of letting it contaminate other water sources caught my attention. We could fix two problems(waste management problems and our current means of energy production) with something we throw away daily. Another good thing that was brought to my attention is when the director of facilities here at OU closed with a statement that they are in the process of signing contracts with companies to increase the efficiency. This meaning that by contract these outside companies are in charge of providing up to date equipment, strategies to improve efficiency and high quality coal. This is reassuring in the fact that even though they are still burning coal, they are at least aware that a change is needed and that they are taking steps to reach those needed changes. Also, I liked how Mr. Bennett, the solar and wind specialist was very open yet straight to the point with his answers about how to transfer OU from coal to solar power. He was asked how this would happen and he immediately said that it was possible that there was enough sun to power OU. But he also made it very clear that no form of energy production would meet our needs by itself and that it's not a snap your finger and the process be over situation, it would take a lot of time and effort. He was the one that after hearing him speak that it hit me that only one form of energy production will not do the job as well as we need it done. A combination of energy sources must be utilized to get the best of both worlds as far as a benefit vs. costs standpoint is concerned.