Washington & Jefferson College Unveils Energy Index

WASHINGTON, Pa., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Political powerhouses Susan Eisenhower and Eleanor Clift will help usher in a new era at Washington & Jefferson College on Monday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., just a day before the Pennsylvania Primary, when the College officially opens its Center for Energy Policy and Management (CEPM) and unveils the Washington & Jefferson College Energy Index (SEE ATTACHED INFOGRAPHIC), a proprietary tool that measures the energy independence of the United States.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120423/NE92410 )

Developed at Washington & Jefferson College by economists Robert Dunn, Ph.D., and Leslie Dunn, Ph.D., the Washington & Jefferson College Energy Index provides a measure of energy independence based on consumption, type of fuel, geography and history.

"We hear often about the need for energy independence in the United States, but what does that mean? How do we know if we are moving toward independence or away from it? There hasn't been a simple measure of the level of energy independence of the United States. Until now.  With the Washington & Jefferson College Energy Index, we can plot the country's level of independence, consumption and reliance on various types of energy," said Tori Haring-Smith, President of Washington & Jefferson College.

"Using this Index," added Diana Stares, Director of the Center for Energy Policy & Management at Washington & Jefferson College, "We will be able to determine how world events, energy supply, and changes in consumer activity impact energy independence. This tool will be of great use to policy-makers, economists, government officials and other decision-makers."

The CEPM provides an opportunity for the free exchange of ideas and information, encouraging civil discourse in the energy debate. Other energy luminaries will join in panel discussions and lectures on Monday, which are open to the public:

• Susan Eisenhower, Chairman of Leadership and Public Policy Programs, Eisenhower Institute
  
• Eleanor Clift, Contributing Editor, Newsweek, Panelist, The McLaughlin Group
  
• Dr. Tori Haring-Smith, President, W&J College
  
• Pennsylvania State Senator Timothy Solobay
  
• Jon Delano, Political Analyst, KDKA
  
• Bill Flanagan, Allegheny Regional Conference
  
• Joseph Dooley, Senior Associate, Clean Energy Program, The Pew Charitable Trusts
  
• Mark Kempic, Acting President, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Columbia Gas of Maryland
  
• Kathleen McGinty, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Strategic Growth, Weston Solutions, Inc.
  
• David Wendt, President, The Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs

The CEPM is led by Diana Stares, an experienced attorney who previously served as Regional Counsel at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), overseeing all of the legal work performed from the Pittsburgh office of the DEP. 

The CEPM will house the newly created proprietary Washington & Jefferson College Energy Security Index, a one-of-a-kind logarithm that measures the energy security of the United States. Developed on the Washington & Jefferson College campus by two faculty economists, the index will be unveiled for the first time on opening day. 

Under Stares' leadership, CEPM initiatives include working to foster the use of compressed natural gas as a vehicle fuel, convening a group that evaluated the mechanics and economics of converting existing gasoline-powered vehicles, and establishing fueling stations to support those vehicles.

The Environmental Law Institute has partnered with the CEPM to research the social, economic, and environmental ramifications of boom and bust cycles associated with various industries in the United States (mining, timber, steel and automotive). The objective of this project is to identify strategies that communities can implement to maximize long-term benefits of growth associated with these industries.

Research on the economic impact of the Marcellus Shale development in Washington County is an ongoing part of the work of the CEPM. Yongsheng Wang, assistant professor of economics at Washington & Jefferson College and director of the financial economics program, leads this research.

The CEPM welcomes inquiries from other interested parties who would like to create partnerships in support of its work.
Members of the media can receive complimentary tickets to the event. For interview requests or other media-related inquiries, please contact Karen Oosterhous at [email protected] or 724-223-5294.

About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., was founded in 1781.  Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional liberal arts curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent student work.

For more information about W&J, visit www.washjeff.edu or call 888-926-3529.

SOURCE Washington & Jefferson College