Embracing A Green Michigan

DETROIT (WWJ)  -- Tune in to WWJ Newsradio 950 as Michigan’s top green energy experts and innovators will share their ideas during a 14-hour marathon broadcast of Embracing A Green Michigan - Carbon Culture At The Crossroads, a half-day conference highlighting the work that's being done in Michigan to develop new technologies and new thinking about the environment.

Beginning at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, WWJ will broadcast live from the campus of Wayne State University in partnership with WSU’s URC partners, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University along with NextEnergy, with special green energy-related interviews airing at 40 minutes past the hour, every hour through 7:40 p.m.  

The conference, 7:30 a.m.-noon, will be held at WSU's Community Arts Auditorium, 450 Reuther Mall. On-site registration is available for $35, cash or check only, at the door. Get in FREE with your WSU, UM or MSU ID.

Here are the experts:

5:40 a.m.: Fred Reinhart, WSU vice president for research and technology commercialization, working to get university-developed technology into the marketplace.

6:40 a.m.: Bruce Dale, MSU professor of Chemical Engineering and former Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University nationally renowned Michigan State University expert on biofuels and ethanol.

7:40 a.m.: Two top URC energy researchers, U-M’s Levi Thompson, and WSU’s Simon Ng, will discuss joint URC efforts to bring researchers together to find “revolutionary but feasible’’ solutions to the nation’s energy challenges.

8:40 a.m.:  Soji Adelaja, director of MSU’s Land Policy Institute, will talk about the institute’s studies looking at the potential for developing wind energy in Michigan as well as research looking at the state’s green infrastructure.

9:40 a.m.: Bob Marans, who heads the U-M Energy Study is looking at big questions such as “energy and behavior.’’ For example, if cars need to be “plugged in’’ to re-charge all night, are people willing to do that? How will it impact the stressed energy grid when a car would use more electricity than a house? The study two-thirds would be willing to work in cooler offices to further conserve energy. For more on the pilot study, click here.

10:40 a.m.: Carol Miller, chair of civil engineering at Wayne State, has done extensive research on related to the environment. She will discuss water contamination and ways to save wetlands.

11:40 a.m.: Robin Boyle, professor and chair of WSU’s geography and urban planning department, is an expert on urban economic development, urban policy and community planning. He’ll discuss green architecture, making your home or office more environmentally friendly. For more on Boyle, visit:
http://www.clas.wayne.edu/unit-faculty-detail.asp?FacultyID=492

12:40, 6:40, 7:40 and throughout the day:  Interviews with experts participating in Tuesday’s “Embracing a Green Michigan’’ conference, including: 

-- Stanley Pruss, the governor’s chief energy adviser, who will outline "Michigan's Plans for Alternative Energy."
-- Jim Croce, CEO of NextEnergy.
-- Stephen Forrest, U-M vice president for research.
-- Randal Charlton, director of TechTown and founder of Asterand.
-- Mary Beth Stanek, General Motors Corp. director of energy and environmental policy.
-- Ray Siada, corporate energy manager, Guardian Industries.
-- Fred Keller, chairman and CEO of Cascade Energy Inc., Grand Rapids.
-- Ronald Krupitzer, vice president, automotive application, American Iron and Steel Institute.
-- Aaron Crum, co-founder of AMI Adaptive Materials Inc., Ann Arbor.

1:40 p.m.: Ralph Kummler, dean of the WSU College of Engineering and Jim Sears, associate vice president with WSU’s Office of Facilities Planning & Management, talk about research efforts underway into alternative energy and environmental impact of such developments as well as ways the university works to save energy.

2:40 p.m.: Gary Was, director of U-M’s Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute, and Carl Simon, director of U-M’s Center for Complex Systems, talk about multiple U-M efforts to connect the scientific as well as social challenges related to creating a more mobile, greener Michigan. 

3:40 p.m.: Greg Auner, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems program at WSU, talks about cutting edge research involving real-time biosensor water monitoring systems.

4:40 p.m.: Joan Rose, the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at Michigan State University, is an internationally known expert on water, water quality and public safety.She is the co-director of the Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA) and the director of the Center for Water Sciences. 

5:40 p.m.: Michael Bernitsas, director of U-M’s Marine Renewable Energy Lab, developed a machine that wrings energy out of river and ocean currents. The machine harnesses power from tiny alternating eddies fish use to help them swim faster. He is working with the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority on a pilot project in the Detroit River. "If we could harness just 0.1 percent of the ocean energy, we would be able to cover the energy needs of 15 billion people," Bernitsas says.