|
Friday, February 20, 2009
SYNOPSIS: The 2009 symposium will focus on three areas of infrastructure development, which demand national, state, and local attention: transportation, land use and urban design, and energy. Developing and implementing new infrastructure in these areas has the potential to drastically reduce dependence on fossil fuels and associated emissions, and strengthen the health and vitality of our communities. Each panel will explore emerging technologies, public policy options, and potential challenges that will be faced in upgrading existing infrastructure.
KEYNOTE: Timothy Duane, Associate Professor of Law, Vermont Law School
SCHEDULE:
Breakfast from 8:30 -- 9:00
Panel 1 from 9:00 -- 10:15
Panel 2 from 10:30 -- 11:45
Brief remarks by Jeff Roberts, NECI Sustainability Coordinator
Local Vermont Lunch prepared by NECI chefs 12:00 -- 12:45
Keynote 1:00 -- 1:45
Panel 3 from 2:00 -- 3:15
GENERAL INFORMATION: All day Friday is open to the public, including a light breakfast and lunch. VT and NH (pending) CLE credits are available to the legal community.
Panel I: Land Use Panel: Green Communities by Design: Implementing sustainable land use and urban design projects
This panel will explore the steps architects and developers are taking to promote green, sustainable, land planning and development.
Moderator: Peg Elmer, Associate Director, Land Use Institute, VLS
Jon Groveman, Esq., Water Program Director & General Counsel, Vermont Natural Resources Council
Presentation topic: Land use litigation and Act 250: A Practitioner's Perspective
Dr. Philip Berke, Professor & Director of the Center for Sustainable Community Design at UNC
Presentation topic: "Integrating Land Use Planning and Green Community Design: A Grand Challenge of the Twenty-First Century"
James Wescoat, Professor of Architecture, The Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT
Presentation topic: "The Public Trust Doctrine and Environmental Design"
Panel II: Transportation Panel: Paving the way for efficiency through our transport systems
Moderator: Richard Watts, Research Director, Transportation Research Center, UVM
Contact info: [email protected]
Kevin Gardner, Assoc. Professor of Engineering, University of New Hampshire:
Presentation topic: Kevin will discuss the life-cycle benefits associated with incorporating roads into the industrial ecology of a region, benefits that include significant reduction in energy use in roadway construction and maintenance. He will also discuss recent research focused on built environment characteristics and how these influence transportation mode choice, health and other social factors.
Karen Glitman, Attorney, Program Manager, University of Vermont Transportation Research Center
Presentation topic: Karen will give an overview of federal transportation policy and funding, focusing particularly on likely changes in the next funding cycle, which will begin in late 2009.
Annie Bourdon, Executive Director & Founder, CarShare Vermont:
Presentation topic: Annie will be talking about alternative transportation models, specifically car share programs.
Panel III: Energy Panel: The Future of Energy: Restructuring the grid and developing renewables in our communities
Today American's dependence on oil based energy is greater than ever before. Unfortunately, the current energy policies have proven to be unsustainable in many ways. In order to continue to meet America's growing energy need without comprising the planet, the economy, or national security, new energy paradigms consisting of renewable, alternative, and novel energy sources are desperately needed.
Moderator: Don Kreis, Associate Director, Institute for Energy and the Environment
Paul Hines, Associate Professor, University of Vermont
Presentation topic: Discussing the integration of renewable resources into the electric utility grid and other applications of smart grid technologies.
Richard Sedano, Regulatory Assistance Project
Presentation topic: Discussing implications of a smart grid within the regulatory framework.
Mary Powell, CEO Green Mountain Power
Presentation topic: Discussing GMP's smart grid research and programs.
|