Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Three Westminster College professors attended the Sustainable Energy Conference July 27-Aug. 1 at Lafayette College in Easton and learned about the potential for implementing wind energy on Westminster's campus.
Dr. Douglas Armstead, Westminster College assistant professor of physics; Dr. Joseph Balczon, associate professor and chair of Westminster's Department of Biology; and Dr. Helen Boylan, associate professor of chemistry, participated in the Wind Scholars program at the conference.
"We are interested in using Westminster's Field Station as a venue to showcase various types of alternative energy," Boylan said. "We now have an understanding of what would be needed to do that at Westminster. The key is making sure you have enough wind energy to make it economically viable. Selecting a good location and making sure there is a sufficiently high tower to get good wind speeds is vital."
The conference, sponsored by the Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF), included educators and students, entrepreneurs and labor, policymakers and activists. The final two days were open to anyone interested in learning about alternative energy. In addition to the Wind Scholars program, attendees could participate in more than 20 sessions and panels focused on technology, business, and energy policy.
SEF, based in Allentown, is a private nonprofit dedicated to promoting renewable energy, clean energy technologies, energy conservation and efficiency, energy education, and financing opportunities related to renewable energy.
Boylan, a 1995 Westminster graduate who joined the faculty in 2001, earned a Ph.D. from Duquesne University.
Armstead, who joined the faculty in 2007, earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland (College Park).
Balczon, who has been with Westminster since 1997, earned an undergraduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University at Erie, Behrend College, and a master's and Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University.
Contact Boylan at (724) 946-6293 or e-mail boylanhm@westminster.edu for additional information.
