April 27, 2009 

MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle Sherrard
202-994-1423; mcs1@gwu.edu

SOLAR EXPERTS TACKLE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES AT GW

The George Washington University's Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy Officially Launches

WASHINGTON--The world's foremost experts and industry leaders on solar energy, including media mogul Ted Turner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and German Bundestag member Hans Josef Fell, convened at The George Washington University April 24 for the first in a series of symposiums on solar solutions to meet challenges in energy independence and climate change. Symposium video and presentations are available online at http://solar.gwu.edu. 

The day-long event served as the public launch for GW's new Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy, sponsor of the event. The institute employs a multi-disciplinary approach to exploring the economic, technical and public policy issues associated with developing and deploying solar power.

"The solar institute is significant to the University's sustainability efforts," said GW President Steven Knapp. "Its work will position GW as an intellectual leader in addressing climate change."

Turner, whose philanthropic support helped launch the institute, said, "I am excited about the solar institute here at GW. The University is really thinking big about the issues that need to be addressed for solar to be a large source of our country's energy needs going forward. This institute will help the industry tackle some of its biggest hurdles."

The broad range of issues featured at the symposium included solar financing, integration of solar power with the national grid, solar policy choices and the status and future of solar technologies. Among the highlights: a discussion by Wellinghoff on expanding high voltage transmission of renewable energy resources; suggestions by Rep. Giffords on how the institute can take maximum advantage of its location in the nation's capital; and presentations by GW professors of engineering and applied science Jonathan Deason and Robert Harrington about research on economic, policy and technical issues surrounding solar energy.

"We have a clear opportunity to enhance our collective understanding and make informed decisions about solar solutions," said Ken Zweibel, international solar expert and institute director. "We know solar energy faces challenges of its own, but we are starting the long road to solar adoption as an energy-significant alternative through experiments and research."
 
The solar symposium culminated GW's Earth Week activities that also included the television broadcast of the PBS program Planet Forward, co-produced by The George Washington University Public Affairs Project. The pilot episode was hosted by Emmy-award winning journalist and GW Professor of Media and Public Affairs Frank Sesno. The University also presented an "Accelerating Greenhouse Gas Reductions" symposium aimed at exploring state-of-the-art greenhouse gas reduction technologies and related legal and public policy issues, and released preliminary results of its greenhouse gas emissions inventory on Earth Day.

The Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy was established within GW's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences through a combination of private, corporate and foundation funds. It draws experts from several University departments and schools to provide independent, fact-based information and analysis for policy makers on how solar energy can help address the challenges of global energy supply and climate change.

Located in the heart of the nation's capital, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in Washington, D.C. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs.  Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.

Ken Zweibel, director, Institute for Analysis of Solar Energy
The George Washington University
zweibel@gwu.edu; 202-994-8433 office; 202-747-4963 cell

For more information about the Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy, visit http://solar.gwu.edu.

For more news about The George Washington University, visit www.gwnewscenter.org.

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