Tag Archives: Renewable Energy

TACNY John Edson Sweet Lecture Series – Renewable Energy Integrating With The Utility Distribution Electric Power System

Tuesday, March 11 2014, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Onondaga Community College, 101 Whitney Applied Technology Center



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Several local experts will discuss renewable energy sources, trends for integrating renewable energy, technical aspects of distributed power generation with the utility distribution electric power system, and a look at the electric grid of the future.

People interested in learning more about integrating renewable energy are invited to attend the free Sweet Lecture presentation on Tuesday, March 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 101 of the Whitney Applied Technology Center on the Onondaga Community College campus. Networking and refreshments start at 5:30 p.m., the speaker is introduced at 6 p.m., the presentation is slated to run from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the event ends at 8 p.m. following questions from the audience. Admission is free and open to the public. Walk-ins are welcome, but we ask that people RSVP here by March 7, 2014. This event is co-sponsored by the CNY Section of the American Chemical Society.

Neil F. LaBrake, Jr., P.E. is the Manager of Retail Connections Engineering covering all jurisdictions in National Grid USA for interconnecting distributed generation. Neil’s career with National Grid and former Niagara Mohawk spans 33 years of electrical engineering experience. He is a licensed professional engineer in NYS and has an M.S. Engineering Management degree from Syracuse University. Also, Neil is National Grid’s representative to Edison Electric Institute’s Electric Light & Power NEC Task Force serving in various technical and leadership roles in the NFPA National Electrical Code Committee since 1995.

Christopher R. Vance, P.E. is a Lead Engineer in National Grid’s Retail Connections Engineering Team. Chris’ career with National Grid and with local engineering consulting firms spans more than 12 years of electrical engineering experience in various technical and lead roles. He is a licensed professional engineer in NYS and LEED Accredited Professional with a M.E. in Electrical Engineering from WPI. Also, Chris is a National Grid representative to Edison Electric Institute’s Electric Light & Power NEC Task Force serving on Code-making Panel 6 of the NFPA National Electrical Code Committee since 2012.

Mohammad Nikkhah Mojdehi is a PhD candidate in department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University. He has been student member of IEEE since 2011. His research interests include power system operation and economics, distributed energy resources, ancillary services, vehicle-to-grid technologies, and power electronics. His doctoral research addresses technical and economic challenges of utilizing distributed energy resources in the power grid. This research is designed to be an invaluable academic contribution to the integration and operation of distributed energy resources including renewables and storage systems. In the context of the increasing importance of using clean energy, the project will provide a framework of integrating distributed energy resources as well as a market mechanism to improve social welfare. He has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

Neil Webb is Director of Energy Project Development for O’Brien & Gere and has more than 23 years of experience in the energy industry. His understanding and background spans wholesale and retail energy markets in North America in their transition through deregulation. Neil has been engaged by utilities, institutions, municipalities, energy supply companies, management firms, and private equity firms on a wide range of energy topics from energy efficiency to capital planning and commodity risk management. Neil began his energy career at Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, now National Grid.

TACNY John Edson Sweet Lecture Series

The TACNY John Edson Sweet Lecture Series has annually presented a minimum of six lectures, free and open to the public, continuously since 1913. Former speakers have included Herbert Hoover, R. Buckminster Fuller, and Jacques Cousteau.

Technology Alliance of Central New York

Founded in 1903 as the Technology Club of Syracuse, the nonprofit Technology Alliance of Central New York’s mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology; and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York. For more information about TACNY, visit www.tacny.org.

Central New York Section of the American Chemical Society (CNY ACS)

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the world’s largest scientific society and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information. A nonprofit organization, chartered by Congress, ACS is at the forefront of the evolving worldwide chemical enterprise and the premier professional home for chemists, chemical engineers and related professions around the globe. For more information about CNY ACS, click here.

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique: “Powering Our Future”

Saturday, April 20, 9:30-11:00am

Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, Syracuse NY


We will look at the adoption of energy by the human race over time, the finite resources of non-renewable energy (i.e. oil, gas, coal and nuclear), the importance of energy conservation, and the promise of renewable energy resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat to help Central New York become a net-zero energy community.

People interested in learning more about sustainability are invited to attend the free Junior Cafe presentation on Saturday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse’s Armory Square. Walk-ins are welcome, but we ask that people RSVP by emailing jrcafe@tacny.org by April 18, 2013.

Presenter: Dr. Peter Plumley is the Exhibits Project Manager at the MOST, and a Research Associate Professor at Syracuse University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is a geologist with an extensive background in computers and technology. Dr. Plumley’s principle focus area has been northwest North America, specifically, Alaska and northern Canada, where he researched plate tectonics and application of paleomagnetic techniques to regional tectonics. His most recent and active research is focused on educational issues of secondary students related to motivation and the Science of Learning. Dr. Plumley was responsible for development and implementation of K-12 outreach for the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University. Students impacted by his outreach programs number approximately 2,000 students from middle schools per year, and 2,100 high school students per year. Dr. Plumley teaches introduction to engineering classes for environmental engineers, with a focus on energy, and is actively designing and building a new exhibit at the MOST dedicated to energy and sustainability. Dr. Plumley was honored as the TACNY 2003 College Educator of the Year and was a recipient of the 2011 Post-Standard Achievement Award. Dr. Peter W. Plumley currently manages a small farm called Plumley Farms in LaFayette, New York, where he raises honeybees and chickens, and produces honey, eggs, beeswax candles, and maple syrup.

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique, a program for middle-school students founded in 2005, features discussions about topics in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an informal atmosphere and seeks to encourage students to consider careers in these areas. Students must be accompanied by an adult and can explore the MOST at no cost after the event.

Technology Alliance of Central New York

Founded in 1903 as the Technology Club of Syracuse, the nonprofit Technology Alliance of Central New York’s mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology; and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York.

For more information about TACNY, visit www.tacny.org.