UW Secures $12 Million in Gifts and Pledges for Energy School |  
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Jan. 9, 2007 -- Three gifts to the University of Wyoming for the new School of Energy Resources (SER) represent the public-private partnership that underpins the basic concept of the school.
EnCana Oil & Gas USA has pledged $5 million toward the construction of a building for the energy school. EnCana's gift is in addition to a prior gift of $2 million toward the university's petroleum engineering program. Combined, they represent the largest industry gift to UW. Jim Nielson, president of the Cody-based energy company Nielson & Associates, has gifted $5 million toward an endowment for the school's operations. Shell Exploration & Production Company has gifted $2 million. Each gift is eligible for state matching funds.
"This commitment from the private sector will go a long way toward responsible development of Wyoming's vast energy resources," Gov. Dave Freudenthal says. "I'm pleased to see this type of support for our new School of Energy Resources."
The SER is designed to focus UW research on energy through the university's land-grant mission of teaching, research, and service. It calls for the addition, during a three-year period, of 12 new nationally- or internationally-renowned faculty members with energy expertise, funded by legislative appropriations. Each would be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate students in addition to conducting research and service. Searches currently are underway for the first four faculty members and a permanent director for the school.
"Our search process is well under way," says UW President Tom Buchanan. "We are identifying and attracting an outstanding pool of candidates for these positions in part because of UW's current reputation for energy research, in part because of our aspiration for national and international prominence, and in part because of the level of public and private support already demonstrated for the school. The governor, the legislature, and Wyoming's energy industry have shown confidence in the University of Wyoming and its potential to be a world leader in energy teaching, research and outreach. These gifts represent just the tip of the drill."
"The UW School of Energy will play a vital role in Wyoming's future," says EnCana Vice President Eric Marsh, a UW graduate. "We are pleased to partner with the university and the great state of Wyoming to provide education and jobs for Wyoming citizens. Educating the future leaders of Wyoming is one of our most important contributions to this state."
According to Nielson, his gift is intended to benefit the state and also assist in reducing the nation's trade imbalance resulting from the importation of oil and natural gas.
"The energy industry has been a part of my entire life," says Nielson. "I believe one of our greatest resources is the un-produced, under-developed known sources of energy in our state and region. New technologies can be applied to these existing resources throughout our state. In my opinion, they are extensive and can be further developed in an environmentally responsible manner by applying new science-driven technologies. I also believe we should do everything we can to realize these resources for the benefit of our state and our nation."
The SER will coordinate UW's existing energy resources, including the Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI), the Institute for Energy Research (IER), the Ruckelshaus Institute's recently-established Energy Working Group, Western Research Institute, and the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center. Plans for the school also call for the creation of additional research institutes, such as a Coalbed Natural Gas Center, a Center for Coal Conversion Technologies, a Center for Renewable Energy Resources, and possibly a research center dealing with improved design for windmill turbine blades growing out of the university's fluid mechanics expertise.
"As a leader in the energy industry, Shell supports investments in technology that lead to responsible energy production" says Russ Ford, vice president, Technical - EP Americas. "The School of Energy Resources will be a key center of learning and for developing and applying new technology. Our goal is to find ways to better develop the significant energy resources in the state of Wyoming, not only for the economic benefit of Wyoming, but also to meet the growing energy demands of the entire country."
The school will include an Energy Outreach Center, whose mission will be to disseminate scientific, engineering, and economic information to support Wyoming's near-term and long-term energy-related activities; to encourage best practices in energy production; and to conduct statewide workshops and symposia on energy-related science, technology, economics, and legal and permitting issues.
An 11-member University of Wyoming Energy Resources Council is guiding the school in all of its mission components, by providing the perspectives of Wyoming industries, national and industrial laboratories, and state agencies to the UW Board of Trustees, the university president, and the vice president for academic affairs.
For additional information on EnCana's gift, call Randy Teeuwen, EnCana community relations, (720) 876-5468; for Shell, Deena McMullen, (303) 305-7807.
Photo
Energy School Gifts -- University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan speaks to a crowd gathered at a State Capitol news conference Tuesday to announce three gifts totaling $12 million to the new UW School of Energy Resources. EnCana Oil & Gas USA has pledged $5 million toward the construction of a building for the energy school. Jim Nielson, president of the Cody-based energy company Nielson & Associates, has gifted $5 million toward an endowment for the school's operations. Shell Exploration & Production Company has gifted $2 million. Each gift is eligible for state matching funds. (UW Photo)
Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007
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