Sustainable Energy Speaker Series
The Sustainable Energy Speaker Series was created to deepen campus and community understanding of contemporary energy issues and spur conversation around energy topics. The series is a joint effort of the Appalachian Energy Center and the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment.
Fall 2024 Series
Powering the Future of Electrified Transportation
Thursday, September 12 @ 2:00 pm
Plemmons Student Union 415 (Rough Ridge) | Free and open to all
Kempower is a European-based firm that designs and manufactures DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles. The company established its North American presence in North Carolina in 2023.
Ashley Edwards, Head of Partners and Support, Kempower
Ashley is a skilled professional with a diverse educational background in marketing, construction, and applied science. After earning degrees from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and Asheville-Buncombe Technical College, Ashley has pursued a dynamic career, blending expertise in construction management, energy efficiency, and solar PV microgrid sales and solutions.
Currently, Ashley plays a crucial role at Kempower, a leading DC fast charger manufacturer based in Durham, NC, where they contribute to the growth of sustainable energy solutions as Head of Partners and Support.
Previous speakers
| Speaker | Topic |
| Dr. I. Paul Kim | Advanced Lithium Metal Anodes (LMAs) and Sustainable Energy Solutions by Soelect Inc |
| Rob Leonard | Phius Passive Buildings |
| Mike Kapp | Phius – The Cost-Optimized Approach to Zero |
| Kate Bashford | Electric Vehicles: Not Just Cars |
| Dr. Murray Fisher | Harnessing the Power of Technology: Sustainable Wind Energy in the Southeast |
| Dr. Adrian Pugsley | Adaptive Facades: Current State of the Art |
| Sophie Mullinax | The Blue Horizons Project: Community Energy Planning in Action |
| Diane Cherry | Consulting Pathways in Clean Energy |
| Ryan Childress | Renewable Natural Gas: What It Is, and Its Role in the U.S. Energy Transition |
| Dionne Delli-Gatti | Promoting Clean Energy Through Community-Based Solutions |
| Tommy Williamson | Grid Modernization and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Integration in North Carolina |
| Ronald DiFelice | Near-Term and Long-Term Prospects for Grid-Scale Energy Storage |
| Ryan Miller | Building Energy Efficiency: The Foundation of North Carolina’s Clean Energy Future |
| Cindy Shea | Sustainability Goals and Initiatives at UNC Chapel Hill |
| Maria Kingery | Solar Coaster |
| Lida Poger | Electric Vehicle Strategies for Electric Utilities |
| Landon Williams | Duke Energy: Utility Initiatives for a Low Carbon Future |
| Sean Hayes | The Oberlin Project: Achieving Community-Scale Sustainability |
| Bill Pfleger | The New Energy Landscape: Microgrid Trends & Future Directions |
| Sal Gill | Energy Storage Systems and Solutions |
| Jarrett B. Davis | Putting Building Science into Practice: Technolgoy and Building Forensics |
| Patrick Richardson & Jim Dees | App State is 45% More Energy Efficient Since 2002-03: How it was Achieved and Future Goals |
| Katharine Kollins | Utility-Scale Wind Energy Development in the Southeast |
| Brian Bednar | Solar Electricity Development in the Southeast: Process and Prospects for the Future |
| Dr. Gregg Marland | Climate Change 1001: What, Why, How, Who? |
| Robin Aldina | North Carolina’s Clean Energy Industry: Status and Prospects |
| David March | Financial and Economic Analysis for Investing in Renewable Energy and Energy Markets |
| Brian Southwell | Behavior change to reduce home energy use: Ideas to encourage multisector collaboration |
| Jeff Tiller & Chuck Perry | Implementing Energy Conservation Policy via the North Carolina State Building Code |