Spotlights: Other MITEI Activities
Energy, behavior, and climate: Many answers, no miracles
At an MITEI colloquium on October 29, Tony Hayward, CEO of BP and a member of MITEI’s external advisory board, pointed out “the harsh realities” of the world energy situation. First, there is no magic solution. Second, energy conservation is the most immediate and cost-effective tactic. Third, government involvement is needed to resolve the global energy/climate dilemma. Posted 5 November 2009
MIT: An engine of energy innovation
DOE makes awards for transformative energy technologies
Novel clean energy technologies developed at MIT were recently deemed to be potentially “transformative” by the U.S. Department of Energy. The technologies are the focus of research awards by DOE’s new Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy. These awards—which support key links in the energy value chain—highlight the critical role MIT plays as an engine of energy innovation. Posted 29 October 2009
President Barack Obama briefed on cutting-edge energy research, delivered clean energy address at MIT
On October 23, President Barack Obama delivered an address at MIT on America's leadership on clean energy. Before his address, he visited several research laboratories where MIT faculty briefed him on promising research projects in renewable energy, storage, and efficiency. His conclusion: “Extraordinary research is being conducted at this Institute.” Posted 29 October 2009
Frances Beinecke urges action on climate change
At an MITEI colloquium, Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council, cited unmistakable signs of global warming and called on Congress and the public to support the Obama Administration’s efforts to move forward on carbon control. Posted 9 October 2009
MIT releases report on retrofitting coal-fired power plants for CO2 capture
Professor Ernest Moniz, director of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and former undersecretary of energy, detailed the findings from the recent MIT symposium "Retrofitting of Coal-Fired Power Plants for CO2 Emissions Reductions" at a press conference on June 19 in Washington D.C. The findings, included in an MITEI report of the meeting, identify a range of possible "next steps" for the consideration of policy makers in government and industry and others engaged in CO2 emissions mitigation. Posted 19 June 2009
Panel weighs options on disposal of spent nuclear fuel
A panel of nuclear power experts met at MIT on May 18 to discuss how to address nuclear waste recycling or disposal, which many analysts consider the biggest obstacle to building a new generation of nuclear power plants across America. The event was convened by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and hosted by the MIT Energy Initiative. Posted 27 May 2009
U.S. energy secretary says new technology is essential to avert climate catastrophe
Steven Chu, the secretary of the Department of Energy, said in a talk on May 12 at MIT that a major increase in basic research is necessary in the United States in order to provide the new energy technologies needed to avert catastrophic climate change. Posted 14 May 2009
DOE to establish two Energy Frontier Research Centers at MIT
MIT has been awarded two of 46 new multimillion-dollar Energy Frontier Research Centers, established by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. The MIT Center for Excitonics will be directed by Professor Marc A. Baldo, and the MIT Solid-State Solar-Thermal Energy Conversion Center will be directed by Professor Gang Chen. Posted 13 May 2009
Earth Day speaker “optimistic” about global warming measures
At an MIT Earth Day colloquium sponsored by MITEI, Professor James J. McCarthy of Harvard, chair of the AAAS, noted that the wise use of technology and science to “decarbonize” our energy systems will give us a choice among alternative futures. Posted 7 May 2009
MIT Energy Initiative awards third round of seed grants
The MIT Energy Initiative’s third round of seed grants for energy research will support innovative work on solar power, nuclear power, fuel cells, biofuels, and more. Several projects are inspired by natural systems, among them geckos’ feet and bacterial antennas. Posted 30 April 2009
At MIT, Markey announces energy bill hearings
At a policy forum hosted by MIT on Monday, April 13, Rep. Edward Markey announced that he and Rep. Henry Waxman will begin a series of high-level hearings next week in Washington to help refine the details of a clean energy bill they introduced two weeks ago. Posted 15 April 2009
Masdar Institute joins MITEI
The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, building on its long-standing relationship with MIT, has become MITEI’s inaugural founding public member. This collaboration will support ongoing research and development of alternative and renewable energy technologies and solutions, and will pursue new opportunities to help meet the world's need for sustainable energy supplies and practices. Posted 6 February 2009
At MITEI colloquium, Shultz urges cut in U.S. oil dependence
Former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz PhD '49, chairman of MITEI’s External Advisory Board, said that now, after several failed attempts to reduce our oil dependence, we really have to get it right. Moving ahead on energy will require both understanding and innovation. Posted 3 December 2008
Debating the U.S. energy future at MIT
In a spirited but friendly debate at MIT on October 6, representatives of the John McCain and Barack Obama presidential campaigns detailed the differences between their candidates' approaches to solving the nation's energy problems. Posted 14 October 2008
MIT Energy Initiative awards second round of seed grants
The MIT Energy Initiative recently awarded more than $1.7 million in seed funding to 17 new or early-stage research projects at MIT. Among the topics to be investigated are micropower generators for developing countries, self-powered electronic systems, carbon nanotube super-springs for energy storage, and offshore renewable energy systems. Posted 18 September 2008
MIT Energy Initiative launches MIT Future of Solar Energy Study
As part of a $10 million gift from the Chesonis Family Foundation, the MIT Energy Initiative announced a major interdisciplinary study on the future of solar energy. Posted 19 May 2008
At MIT, Senator Bingaman pushes amped-up U.S. energy policies
Boosting Washington's "anemic and unreliable support for basic science and engineering enterprise" is a critical step toward a viable energy future, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., told an MIT audience on Friday, April 25. Posted 8 May 2008
Governor says Mass. can reap benefits from clean energy
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick told a crowd at MIT on Earth Day that clean energy has the potential to bring about an economic bonanza for the commonwealth at the same time that it improves the planet's well-being. Posted 25 April 2008
Expert says big energy picture must balance security, sustainability, and supply
Carl Bauer, director of the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, told an MIT audience that electricity shortfalls leading to seasonable brownouts and blackouts in California, Texas, and New England by 2016 are just some of the challenges facing decision makers tackling America's energy future. Posted 19 March 2008
DOE Deputy Secretary outlines new energy challenges facing the US
A new factor creating a different energy reality today, according to Clay Sell, is the challenge of global climate change and the prospect that we're going to have to meet increasing demand for energy in a carbon-constrained environment henceforward. Posted 8 February 2008
Oil expert says solar is best hope for breaking free of fossil fuels
Leonardo Maugeri, group senior vice president for strategies and development at Eni SpA told a crowd at MIT that because there is no shortage of supply, our heavy dependence on carbon-rich fossil fuels — coal, petroleum, and natural gas — will persist for another two to three decades. Posted 8 February 2008
MIT Energy Initiative announces first seed grant winners
A wide variety of MIT research projects were among those chosen to receive more than $1.94 million in the MIT Energy Initiative's first round of campus seed grants, which are intended to help launch new or early stage projects. Posted 29 January 2008
UK's Stern eyes economic and policy responses to climate change
As difficult as adapting to climate change will be for rich countries, developing countries will be much more deeply affected, British government adviser Nicholas Stern told an MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) colloquium Monday, November 19. Posted 28 November 2007
