On July 16th I was at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA, graphic recording at Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF)’s Powering America’s Next 250 Years Conference. The sponsoring organization, Regenerative Energy Initiative (REI), is the SEF’s main educational program, and the conference featured speakers covering everything from the history of Pennsylvania’s energy industries, which were heavily based in coal and petroleum, to the future, which will increasingly rely on renewables.
It was a fascinating day, and I learned about all sorts of emerging technologies, from rapidly improving and ever-cheaper batteries to portable solar panels you can mount on your balcony. Given the current administration’s disdain for any energy source developed since the 1890s, it was really encouraging to see that, while the momentum towards more sustainable energy in this country may have slowed, it’s hardly been stopped, and we, like the rest of the world, will inevitably be using a lot less fossil fuel in the future.
As I walked out of the conference late that afternoon into near-100-degree heat and an enveloping orange haze of Canadian wildfire smoke, I could only be happy about that. Thanks to Kelly Sanders of Moravian U for having me up for this fantastic event!
