Virginia Senator Frank Wagner will speak at the Deans' Forum on Energy Security and Sustainability on Monday, Oct. 16 at the Holtzman Alumni Center.

In the 2006 General Assembly session, Senator Wagner was a chief patron of SB 262, the Virginia Energy Plan. The plan establishes an energy policy for the commonwealth and directs the Division of Energy of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, in consultation with the State Corporation Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, and Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research at Virginia Tech, to prepare, by July 1, 2007, a 10-year comprehensive plan to implement the commonwealth's energy policy.

The plan calls for studies of sites for wind and solar energy and incentives for implementation of renewable energy resources, directs the Commonwealth Transportation Board to encourage the use of biodiesel and other alternative fuels, and creates the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, which includes Virginia Tech’s Advanced Research Institute

Sen. Wagner represents the Seventh Senate District in Virginia Beach and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He serves on the Commerce and Labor, General Laws and Technology, Rehabilitation and Social Services, and Transportation committees.

The Forum on Energy Security and Sustainability begins at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome and remarks from College of Natural Resources Dean Mike Kelly about the university’s strategic plan. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger will introduce U.S. Representative Rick Boucher at 9:40 a.m.

From 10:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., there will be an opportunity to view posters. Lunch will be provided to attendees around the posters. Sen. Wagner will speak at 1:40 p.m., followed by further interaction at the posters.

There will be more than 100 posters from faculty members and students displaying research on energy policy, biofuel, solar, wind, and other alternative fuels, nuclear energy, hydrogen creation, storage, and transport and fuel cells, energy infrastructure, energy and the environment, and many novel topics.

The entire university community is invited. The forum is the first in a year-long series of events. The purpose of the forum is to foster synergy of research, education, and outreach efforts at Virginia Tech in the energy and energy-related environmental fields, and provide perspectives from policy leaders on energy-related needs. A second event on Nov. 29-30 will showcase research to businesses and government.

Click here to see the entire agenda, access the poster abstracts, and learn more. For more information, contact Jack Lesko at 231-5196, or Richard Hirsh at 231-5601.

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