December 2019
Forum2100.org – End of Year Greetings
Dear Friends,
As this year closes, and 2020 beckons, we want to share with you our reflections on Forum2100’s journey since a small gathering of supporters met at Fordham University in May 2017.
At that time, our small group expressed three major concerns:
- That the level of atmospheric CO2 is continuing to rise every year – with no end in sight.
- That relying solely on political support – even where it is positive – will not be enough to curtail CO2 emissions sufficiently.
- That the business community can and must play a critical role in addressing the world’s energy challenges.
One product from that May meeting was the articulation of Forum2100’s mission, which is
To create a diverse, global community that works to transcend today’s polarized public discourse about energy sources and uses, and that endeavors to identify a portfolio of business-based innovations that solve real-world energy problems.
Originally, our small group had thoughts about meeting physically in various parts of the globe. But logistics, and the associated costs, pushed us into the virtual world. However, along with that choice, we created our series of 30-minute Business and Energy Talks. This opened Forum2100 up to a global community, who could choose to participate either real time or later on through our website Archives (now also available on YouTube – search Forum2100).
So far, we’ve had twelve Business and Energy Talks. What have we learned?
- Tito Jankowski shared how his company, Air Miners, is exploring the world of negative CO2 emissions and the technologies that are seeking to achieve this.
- Francois Vuille described his company, SOFTCAR, which is based on novel hybrid vehicle architecture and massive use of biopolymer materials and advanced composites.
- Anna Demeo talked about her company, Racepoint Energy, which is focused on widespread adoption of smart micro grids for communities as well as individual buildings.
- Ana Trobovich discussed her organization, the Energy Web Foundation, and its role in promoting blockchain applications for energy.
- Nick Gogerty described how his firm, SolarCoin, is using cryptocurrency to accelerate the deployment of solar energy.
- John Carroll shared how his company, Purify Fuel, is deploying additives based on nanotechnology oxygen catalysts to make diesel fuel cleaner and more efficient.
- Eric Nelson talked about how his company, SAF-USA.com, is bringing solar activated façade – an energy-efficient building cladding system – to North America.
- Steve Wittrig, who runs Kinetic Emergy, spoke about the history and possible future of ammonia as a fuel – with a market potential larger than agricultural fertilizer.
- George Markowsky, now at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, talked about the potential to deploy updated nuclear energy technologies to address climate change risks.
- Quinta Nwanosike-Warren shared how her firm, Energy Research Consulting, is providing energy and water solutions for small- and medium-sized firms, primarily in Africa.
- Merribel Ayres, who runs the Lighthouse Consulting Group, described her experience managing US Climate Action Partnership’s public engagement strategy during the Obama Administration.
- Paul Sullivan, professor at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, spoke about the challenges, risks, and opportunities associated with military operational energy requirements.
We are committed to continuing to present six Business and Energy Talks in 2020. Our first two have already been scheduled. On January 21, the University of Wisconsin’s Greg Nemet will address “How Solar Energy Became Cheap: A Model for Low-Carbon Innovation”. On February 18, Andrew Webber and Daniel Feldman will talk about how their company, searCH4power, is deploying an innovative approach using methane from oil fields (which otherwise would be flared) to power bitcoin mining.
We are also committed to expanding the diversity of our Business and Energy Talk presenters. Thus far, the demographics of our twelve presenters has been 3 women and 9 men, 4 born outside the US and 8 born in the US, two under 40, five between 40 and 60, and five 60+. We would be delighted to receive recommendations from any of you for future Business and Energy Talks. And we definitely accept self-nominations!
We welcome your feedback. Please drop us a note at your convenience.
In the meantime, we send warm holiday greetings to you and your families.
David Gautschi cyberdag@gmail.com
Dave Nagel davidc.nagel@gmail.com