Gov. John Bel Edwards has named a 小蝌蚪APP mechanical engineering professor to the state小蝌蚪APP檚 newly formed Climate Initiatives Task Force.
Dr. Terrence Chambers is among more than 20 panel members. It .
The task force小蝌蚪APP檚 goal: to recommend strategies to eliminate statewide net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Chambers is director of UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 . He has been a driving force in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 research of solar and renewable energies.
His partnerships with business helped lead to the creation of the in Crowley and the , a solar farm in 小蝌蚪APP Research Park in Lafayette. He holds the Donald and Janice Mosing Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering.
Two additional faculty members in UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 , Dr. Mark Zappi and Dr. Peng 小蝌蚪APP淪olomon小蝌蚪APP Yin, will serve on the task force小蝌蚪APP檚 Science Advisory Board. Zappi is executive director of the , while Yin is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
The Science Advisory Board is one of four groups whose work will support the task force. Other topics include equity, law and policy, and financial and economic concerns.
Chambers said he was 小蝌蚪APP渉onored to have been chosen小蝌蚪APP as a task force member.
小蝌蚪APP淚 feel this is a testament to the wonderful work that many researchers at UL Lafayette have been doing for many years, particularly through the Energy Institute of Louisiana, to develop strength in the field of renewable energy,小蝌蚪APP Chambers said.
Chambers is one of two task force members chosen from higher education institutions in the state, and the only one from a public university. The other is Robert Verchick, a professor of law at Loyola 小蝌蚪APP in New Orleans.
小蝌蚪APP淚 feel that one of the best things faculty can do 小蝌蚪APP both at UL Lafayette and at other institutions statewide 小蝌蚪APP is to serve as an unbiased source of accurate and up-to-date information regarding the potential use of renewable energy in Louisiana. Other ways we can contribute is to provide world class renewable energy research, education, workforce training, and public outreach,小蝌蚪APP Chambers said.
In a press release announcing the task force小蝌蚪APP檚 creation, the Governor小蝌蚪APP檚 Office said members would prioritize the need to reduce the state小蝌蚪APP檚 contributions to climate change 小蝌蚪APP渨hile fully recognizing Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 climate vulnerabilities and its industrial and economic characteristics.小蝌蚪APP
That includes acknowledging the continued importance of the oil and gas industry to the state小蝌蚪APP檚 economy, Chambers said.
小蝌蚪APP淟ouisiana is known to be a leader in the energy industry, and I want to make sure that Louisiana always continues its energy leadership role, even as the nation and the state transition to a more balanced portfolio of traditional and renewable energy sources.
He continued: 小蝌蚪APP淭he renewable energy industry is booming all across the country and I want Louisiana to get into the game. Louisiana workers needs jobs, and the skills and manufacturing facilities needed to support the renewable energy industry are very similar to what we already have to support oil and gas.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淲ith a little bit of re-training and re-tooling, I believe that many of our service companies could serve both markets, and that the diversification will prevent our workers from being laid off when one industry experiences a low period.小蝌蚪APP
Photo credit: Dr. Terrence Chambers and mechanical engineering doctoral student Deepak Jain Verendra Kumar review data in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Photovoltaic Applied Research and Testing Lab. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 小蝌蚪APP)