Robert Atkinson, in conjunction with several other fellows associated with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, has just released another report addressing the STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) challenge America faces.

Most reports focus on advanced degree programs; this report highlights the critical role primary and secondary education in STEM plays in developing an educated workforce:

“If America is to succeed in the innovation-powered global economy, boosting math and science skills will be critical. This is why a wide array of task forces and organizations has recently raised the clarion call for more and better scientists and engineers. While the policy proposals are wide ranging, one key policy innovation has surprisingly been ignored: the role of specialty math and science high schools….[E]vidence shows these schools are a powerful tool for producing high school graduates with a deep knowledge and strong passion for science and math that translates into much higher rates of college attendance and graduation in scientific fields.”

You can read the rest fo the report here. How would you re-think our K-12 system in light of the ITIF’s findings?

While parts of the city flourish and other parts continue to struggle, Cleveland now has a second incarnation in Second Life—thanks in large measure to Case Western Reserve’s Lev Gonick and a host of other dedicated souls who have created a virtual Cleveland in this rapidly growing online environment. As scenarists, we can’t help but be pleased by the possibilities a virtual Cleveland holds for testing and playing “What If?” with a variety of possible futures for our city. It’s much more than a game–it’s a way to test real ideas and see how well they play out with other online residents.

According to PD reporter Tom Feran, “You don’t have to dream to visit a Cleveland where University Circle is on the lakefront next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; where the Cleveland Clinic opens operating rooms to students from Case Western Reserve University; where Millionaires’ Row is preserved intact along Euclid Avenue; where a new convention center can be built in weeks; and where — by the way — the weather is always perfect.

“You will find it and more in the virtual world of Cleveland 2.0, a colorful, three-dimensional cyber city that is more ambitious in scale and range of participation than anything previously built for the 3-D Internet.”

To learn more, read Lev’s post about Cleveland 2.0, then join in the fun for yourself. See you in Cleveland 2.0!

The other day we ran a brief post on the heightened interest in the Shift Happens section of TechFutures that included a powerful video link. Today’s video link makes for an interesting contrast with the previous post–and highlights just how important education is in a global economy during the information age. Click here to watch the original Shift Happens video, then click here to see how much Americans know about the world they live in…then try to decide whether those are tears of laughter or fear rolling down your cheeks.

HOUSE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRESENTATIONS by PJM Interconnection and The Ohio State University (as referred to in previous report by Gary Smith)

Presentations were heard from Kerry Stroup, manager for state relations for PJM Interconnection; and from Drs. Gregory Washington, Jeff Daniels, and Steve Slack of Ohio State University (OSU). Washington is a professor and the dean of research for the College of Engineering; Daniels is a professor and associate dean of research for the College of
Mathematics and Physical Sciences; and Slack is the director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and associate dean of research at the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

During the first presentation, Mr. Stroup gave an overview of PJM’s role in managing a portion of Ohio’s electricity transmission network, and providing access for distributed generation from alternative electrical energy generators. Stroup described PJM as one of two regional transmission organizations (RTO’s) serving Ohio. Stroup emphasized that PJM independently operates, but does not own, transmission facilities owned by AEP and Dayton Power and Light as part of a regional network that extends from New Jersey and North Carolina through Chicago.

Stroup made it clear that PJM is a non-profit entity regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

PJM ensures short-term reliability by:

1. Receiving, confirming and implementing all interchange schedules;
2. Ordering the re-dispatch of generators connected to PJM-controlled transmission facilities;
3. Approving all scheduled outages of transmission facilities;
4. Scheduling generator maintenance outages;
5. Monitoring the electrical system on a real-time basis; and
6. Implementing emergency procedures required to maintain system reliability.

He said long-term reliability is assured through its long-term Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) planning process that examines load, generation and transmission over a 15-year planning horizon. He noted that FERC has recently modified its RTEP process to address persistent and costly transmission system congestion.

Stroup said that requests for new connections are assessed through a three-step feasibility process. He noted that while current generation connections are dominated by nuclear, coal and natural gas; the mix of current applications includes wind at nearly 25 percent; natural gas at nearly 30 percent; coal at 25 percent and nuclear at nearly 15 percent.

Stroup said requests to connect new sources of less than 20 megawatts are expedited, including expediting new sources of 2 megawatts or less using pre-certified generation equipment and systems that meet IEEE standards. Stroup noted that the majority of interconnection requests from distributed generation developers are for distribution level system interconnection (under state jurisdiction) rather than to the bulk power generation system (under FERC
jurisdiction). He said these entities can still apply to take part in PJM’s wholesale markets and their impact on wholesale power transactions assessed.

Stroup also discussed PJM’s management of voluntary wholesale spot markets, local marginal price (LMP) signals, curtailments, the use of transmission congestion charges, capacity and ancillary service markets. He said these markets encourage the development of demand-side resources, buttress bulk power reliability, and can provide revenue streams to support investments in Ohio’s abundant electric energy resources.

PJM also runs a Generation Attributes Tracking System (GATS) through a for-profit subsidiary. He said the GATS allows owners of renewable generators to obtain the full value of their resource by letting them use the energy produced, and then separately selling the renewable energy certificate associated with it to suppliers who need clean energy, or certificates, to comply with state renewable portfolio standards (and fuel emission disclosure requirements).

In response to Rep. Latta, Stroup said wholesale electric power averages $40 per MWH, and can increase up to a ceiling of $1000 per MWH under special conditions.

During the second presentation, Dr. Washington gave a slide presentation of Energy: A National and Ohio Overview. He said, the most important challenge of our age is to find a clean and renewable replacement for inexpensive fossil fuels.

Washington noted that 67 percent of oil production is used in transportation worldwide. He said conservative estimates suggest that peak oil production will occur in this century, with some pointing to this decade. He also cited the rise in population and energy consumption in developing countries. He said that while the population of developed countries is expected to remain flat or decline during the 21st century, that of developing countries is projected to rise to 10 billion.

Washington said total world energy consumption has increased from 12.8 TW (Terawatts, 1 TW = 1012 watts) in 1998 to 14.8 TW in 2004 (about 88 percent from fossil fuels). He evaluated the potential for renewable energy to replace fossil fuels:

Hydroelectric 0.9 TW economically feasible
Geothermal 11.6 TW continental total potential
Wind 2-3 TW
Biomass/Biofuels 7-10 TW gross, using 50 percent of all cultivatable land and current
technology; ignores the energy needed to produce biofuels (that may
or may not exceed the energy obtained).
Solar 20 TW using an area the size of Oklahoma; high capital cost

Washington concluded that we will need a mix of all the energy sources we can get, and described the energy research and education efforts at OSU and 14 other Ohio universities in the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio (UCEAO).

Rep. Koziura asked about the roll of mass transit and changing people’s energy habits. Rep. Goodwin asked about the use of hydrogen fuel.

Source: Hannah Report, March 7, 2007

Beginning today, TechFutures will bring you special reports from Gary Smith of the Greater Cleveland Partnership on how the Executive and legislative branches of our state’s government are addressing alternative energy opportunities in Ohio. Over the course of the next ten weeks, we expect to receive regular updates from Gary, and will post them here as Special Reports. Today’s comes in two parts: first, Gary’s opening coverage of the hearings, followed by a summary report of some of the initial testimony.

Here is Gary’s first report:

As a lobbyist for the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), part of my job is to follow the inter-workings of our state government here in Ohio and to advocate on certain issues as they come before the General Assembly. The Greater Cleveland Partnership is interested in the process of developing our public policy agenda (which includes alternative energy issues) and you may review our positions, starting March 20, 2007 at our main web site.

Admittedly, watching the legislative process is sometimes as thrilling as watching paint dry; however, every once in a while, the wave of public policy washes ashore a topic that is bigger than the process itself—and thus commands a thorough examination. With the commencement of the 127th General Assembly and the start of a new era in Ohio politics with the election of Democrat Governor Ted Strickland, change is most definitely in the wind—literally!

There has been a paradigm shift at the state level. Government officials seem now to recognize that it is time to take a serious look at alternative energy solutions. For the legislature’s part, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Jon Husted (R-Kettering) created a new standing committee for just this purpose: The House Alternative Energy Committee, chaired by Representative Jim McGregor (R-Columbus). Northeast Ohio representation on the committee includes Representative Josh Mandel (R-Lyndhurst) and Lorraine Fende (D-Willowick). You can find a complete list of the committee members here.

During the first hearing of this new standing committee, Chairman McGregor explained that the intent of this “study committee” was to hear (over the next ten weeks) from experts on the issue, learn of their differing opinions, and work with interested parties, the Ohio Senate, and Governor Strickland on these emerging alternative energy issues. Unfortunately, since the committee’s original meeting on March 7th, they have yet to reconvene. My calls seeking an explanation have been, as of yet, unreturned. I look forward to reporting to you, on these pages, the work these bodies do with respect to the alternative energy debate.

If you or your organization would like to present your thoughts on the matter, you can contact the Chairman McGregor’s office at (614)644-6002.

The first hearing of the committee entertained two presentations. The first presentation was by Mr. Kerry Stroup, the manager of state relations for PJM Interconnection—an independent operator of transmission facilities owned by AEP and Dayton Power and Light. He went on to discuss PJM’s primary mission—maintaining the reliability of the bulk power system. An in-depth treatment of Mr. Stroup’s testimony will follow this post as a second entry.

Governor Strickland appears to be doing his part as well with respect to offering public policy initiatives that seek to address alternative energy solutions. Last week, Strickland released some of the details of his Executive budget proposal which includes, among other provisions, the creation of an Energy Strategy Development Fund and increasing the Advanced Energy program by $5 million. Additionally, in his introductory letter, Strickland proclaims that “to build a strong energy industry in our state, the Executive Budget calls for the coordination of almost $1 billion in energy related programs to use energy as an economic development driver in Ohio.” You can view the complete budget summary here on the GCP website.

More details on the biennial budget will be revealed this coming Tuesday when the bill is introduced in the Ohio House. The House Finance and Appropriations committee, chaired by State Representative Matthew Dolan (R-Novelty), will begin its deliberations soon thereafter.

With Chris’s help, I will continue reporting on alternative energy issues as things progress in Columbus. I hope you found this update informative, and I look forward to your feedback and ideas.

Thank you.

Gary Smith