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The “Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape” podcast brings together academic researchers, industry professionals, students, policy makers, and more to explore energy topics, including SER’s research efforts and developing Wyoming projects.
Episode 1: Welcome to the inagural episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape. This episode is hosted by Kara Fornstrom, Director of the Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis at the School of Energy Resources, University of Wyoming, to introduce listeners to the permanent podcast host, Dr. Holly Krutka, SER Executive Director. In this episode, listeners will learn more about Dr. Krutka, the School of Energy Resources and the goals of launching this podcast.
Episode 2: This episode introduces listeners to the creation of the School of Energy Resources, its early days and evolution with Dr. Fred McLaughlin, director of SER's Center for Economic Geology Research. He also discusses SER's recent growth and describes some of its biggest projects.
Episode 3: Wyoming is one of the largest energy-producing states with strong oil, gas, and coal sectors, with an increasingly growing hub for advanced technologies like nuclear, hydrogen, and carbon capture and sequestration. This episode focuses on how the School of Energy Resources is preparing the next generation of Wyoming's workforce with Academic Director Kami Danaei, SER alumnus Kyle McDonald, and current student Connor Fleming.
Episode 4: Wyoming is a top oil and natural-gas producing state and continues to explore ways to access untapped oil and gas reserves, including the Mowry Project. This episode explores the structure of SER's research program and the vital importance of pursuing multi-disciplinary oil and gas research with Scott Quillinan, SER Senior Director of Research.
Episode 5: Nuclear energy is an extremely powerful source of low-carbon energy, but it is often not well understood. In this episode, listeners will learn about SER's Nuclear Energy Research Center with Co-Directors Tara Righetti and Caleb Hill, explore the process for generating nuclear energy, the benefits and risks of this technology and its future in Wyoming.
Episode 6: Wyoming is the top coal-producing state in the U.S. In an interview with Trina Igelsrud-Pfeiffer, director of SER's Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion, this episode focuses on how Wyoming is exploring non-thermal applications to utilize this vast resource.
Episode 7: Hydrogen is a new and exciting topic at the forefront of innovation in a changing energy landscape. This episode explores how Wyoming is identifying the opportunities and advantages of the emerging hydrogen economy with SER's Director of the Hydrogen Energy Research Center, Eugene Holubnyak.
Episode 8: In this episode, listeners will learn about the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, get some reflections on the 2024 legislative session as well as the future direction of the organization with Ashley Harpstreith, Director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association and UW Intern Dawson Kluesner. The guests will also discuss the Cowboy Family Report, an WTA initiative recently unveiled, including the interactive dashboard.
Episode 9: In this episode, listeners will gain an understanding of the methodologies used in SER's 2023 Social License Study and a summary key takeaways with the authors Selena Gerace and Jessica Western.
Episode 10: In this episode, Dr. Krutka is joined by Caryn Campbell, Director of Operations for Enbridge's southwest region. She will discuss the safe and reliable operations of pipeline and terminal assets as well as providing leadership by mentoring women in STEM.
Episode 11: In this episode, Dr. Krutka is joined by Esther Wagner, one of the authors a recently published SER paper titled "Headed West: the Challenges and Opportunities Facing Exports of Wyoming Natural Gas to Decarbonizing Western Markets" and Kara Fornstrom, CERPA Director. The guests discuss the paper and how Wyoming is uniquely positioned to thrive given the low-carbon attributes of its natural gas resource.
Episode 12: This episode focuses on Wyoming's efforts to identify ways to improve enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to minimize standed, unproduced oil and gas field in Wyoming. Dr. Holly Krutka visits with Lon Whitman, director of the Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute to learn more about Wyoming's long-standing history in EOR and what the future holds.
Episode 13: Wyoming is home to a wealth of natural resources and energy, including large reservoirs of oil and natural gas, vast reserves of coal and uranium, and the largest deposit of trona in the world. The Wyoming State Geological Survey performs many functions to research and monitor the State's geology so we can better understand and develop these resources. This episode features Dr. Erin Campbell, the Wyoming State Geologist, who oversees the Wyoming State Geological Survey.
Episode 14: Featuring two members of the Industry Advisory Board for the Professional Landman Program Marc Strahn and Katie Schwieger, this episode focuses on SER's Professional Landman Program, the importance for professional development and the uniqueness of SER's AAPL program.
Episode 15: In this episode, Dr. Krutka is joined by Dr. Sallie Greenberg, an environmental geosciences expert who bridges the gap between rock-solid science, policy and communication. Sallie and Holly discuss how science, sustainability and society interact and how embracing this combination can enable greater innovations and results in the carbon management sphere.
Episode 16: In this episode, Dr. Krutka discusses SER's professional landman program (PLM) and it student club, the Student Chapter for Energy Resources (SCER). The guests -- current student Kendall Klos, Jacob Haseman, Shareholder Attorney at Beatty & Wozniak, P.C. and Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for the PLM program, and Fred Eden, SER alumnus, Landman at Peabody, and PLM Industry Advisory Board member -- describe how industry interacts with SER students and how that elevates their experience while preparing them for their careers.
Episode 17: In this episode, Dr. Holly Krutka is joined by Skip York, founder of DSC Advising, to examine the intersection between energy and economics. Dr. York provides a holistic evaluation of current investments in the global energy sector and discusses whether they are sufficient to meet both environmental commitments and the growing energy demand.
Episode 18: While coal production has declined from its peak in 2008 by around half, Gillette remains America's Energy Capital and has many opportunities ahead of it with a strong and highly trained workforce, incredible natural resources, and exceptional infrastructure. For these reasons, the School of Energy Resources has a number of projects in the area focused on emerging technologies to leverage Northeast Wyoming's strengths. In this episode, Dr. Krutka is joined by Rusty Bell, a long-time economic development leader in Gillette, who is now the Director of the Office of Economic Transformation.
Episode 19: As a top oil and natural gas producing state, Wyoming is identifying ways to improve enhanced oil recovery to minimize stranded, unproduced oil and gas in Wyoming fields. Today's guest, Steve Whitaker, a Senior Petroleum Geologist with the Wyoming Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI), discusses current projects and techniques in enhanced oil recovery and how these efforts can help maintain a strong oil and gas industry in Wyoming.
Episode 20: As a top energy-producing state with abundant wildlife, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department often plays an integral role in ensuring wildlife and habitat protection in areas where energy development occurs. In this episode, Angi Bruce, the new director of Wyoming Game and Fish, discusses how a collaborative partnership between federal entities, Wyoming elected and appointed officials, the energy sector, landowners, and the public allows the state to remain a wildlife haven into the future.
Episode 21: Grant funding opportunities and loan applications from the U.S. Department of Energy now require the submittal of a Community Benefits Plan to "help ensure broadly shared prosperity in the clean energy transition". This episode features Madeleine Lewis and Selena Gerace who have been instrumental in the School of Energy Resources' efforts to prepare CBPs and implement them upon successful award. Specifically, the guests discuss the development of the CPB Toolbox, which is available to assist stakeholders in responding to federal grant opportunities.
Episode 22: Elected in November 2018, Mark Gordon is Wyoming's 33rd and current Governor. During his tenure, he has actively engaged in all aspects of the issues facing Wyoming's energy sector. In this episode, Governor Gordon and Dr. Krutka discuss the opportunities and challenges Wyoming faces as an energy producing state.
Episode 23: Kara Choquette is the Director of Communications and Government Relations for Power Company of Wyoming, a wholly owned affiliate of The Anschutz Corporation, who has been dedicated to the development of the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in Carbon County, Wyoming, for many years. This episode features a discussion about the challenges faced and opportunities presented by this project along with the TransWest Express Transmission Project.
Episode 24: The development of oil and natural gas results in large amounts of produced water. Wyoming is identifying ways to treat, reuse, and benefit from water produced from oil and natural gas development. This episode features Dr. Jonathan Brant, Director of the Center of Excellence in Produced Water Management at the UW School of Energy Resources. Professor Brant shares the many ways collaboration with others is helping advance water treatment technologies in Wyoming and beyond.
Episode 25: As a top natural gas producing state, Wyoming has led in collaboration between academia, industry, and government to identify new ways to detect and curb methane emissions. Success in reducing methane emissions has changed Wyoming's natural gas production and has allowed production to continue despite mounting regulatory requirements on greenhouse gas emissions. This episode features Dr. Shane Murphy, the Director of the Center of Excellence in Air Quality at the UW School of Energy Resources and a professor in the Atmospheric Sciences department in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Dr. Murphy talks about collaboration, technology, and how Wyoming's energy industry partners surprised him.
Episode 26: Christi Barry is a University of Wyoming alum who studied geology for her undergraduate degree and then continued her graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she studied volcanic and tectonic activity in the region. Ms. Barry has now devoted much of her career to the development of a proposed spent nuclear fuel repository at Yucca Mountain. On the podcast, she discusses her time at UW, how her education prepared her for her career, and how her professional background has shaped her perspective on nuclear energy and the importance of transparency and public outreach on challenging energy projects.
Episode 27: Wyoming is an oil and gas producing state with a significant proportion of Wyoming’s oil coming from enhanced oil recovery using injection of carbon dioxide and other improvement techniques. Dr. Reza Barati is an expert on techniques for enhanced oil recovery and today serves as the Don W. Green Professor of Petroleum Engineering and the Director of the Tertiary Oil Recovery Program at the University of Kansas. Previously Professor Barati was at Wyoming’s own Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute and joins the podcast to speak about technology and opportunities for Wyoming.
Episode 28: This episode features Austin Moon, a recent graduate of the School of Energy Resources, and Randall Violett, the inaugural director over the Energy and Environmental Systems concentration in SER's Energy Resource Management and Development undergraduate degree. The guests discuss the curriculum for this educational concentration as well as the career opportunities available to environmental scientists and consultants.
Episode 29: Representative Don Burkhart represented Wyoming House District 15 from 2011 through 2024. He has also served the state in various capacities, including serving as a member of the Energy Resources Council. His career included several different roles related to the nuclear sector. When Wyoming's first large-scale nuclear power plant was announced, Representative Burkhart's fellow legislators relied on his expertise and leadership to guide the state in key decisions. In this episode, Dr. Krutka asks Representative Burkhart about his time in the legislature, his perspective on the role nuclear energy can play in an energy state like Wyoming and why he has chosen to give back through service.
Episode 30: Jeff Merrifield is an attorney and partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, a law firm focusing on the technology and life sciences, energy, financial, real estate, and construction sectors. Jeff is a former Commissioner of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and leads the energy section at Pillsbury Wintrhop Shaw Pittman. He is widely recognized as an international thought leader on nuclear energy. In this episode, Dr. Krutka asks him about different types of nuclear energy, where the industry is going and the role Wyoming can and should play in this sector.
Episode 31: Rob Creager is the Executive Director of the Wyoming Energy Authority, an entity with a mission is to advocate, facilitate, and advance Wyoming's energy economy. In an all-of-the above state, WEA covers the entire energy spectrum, including all sources of generation and extraction, distribution through transmission lines, pipelines and export facilities, as well as end use and consumption. In this episode, Mr. Creager and Dr. Krutka discuss WEA's porfolio of responsibilities, actions being taken, collaboration between WEA and SER, and Mr. Creager's own drive to remain in Wyoming and build a career helping the largest industry in his home state.
Episode 32: Professor Todd Allen is the Chair of Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences at the University of Michigan. After serving in the Navy, he earned a PhD in nuclear engineering and has spent his career working on issues related to the nuclear industry. In this episode, Dr. Allen and Dr. Krutka discuss his career, the important role of national labs, the development of advanced nuclear reactors and his dedication to ensuring the the national and international discussion of nuclear energy includes is far more diverse than nuclear engineers.
Episode 33: Like other energy sources, Wyoming exports most of the electricity it producers into often complicated electricity markets. Todd Snitchler is a nationally recognized expert on electricity issues, especially wholesale electricity markets and joins the podcast to shed light on Wyoming's electricity consumers and markets generally. As the CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association, he represents companies that own competitive power generation assets and advocates for policies that focus on achieving and maintaining well-functioning and properly regulated competitive wholesale electricity markets. In this episode, Todd and Dr. Krutka discuss his interesting career and his views on current challenges to the Nation's electricity grid, especially reliability issues.
Episode 34: Cindy Crane is the CEO of PacifiCorp and the Chairwoman of the SER’s governance board, the Energy Resources Council. In this episode, Dr. Krutka and Ms. Crane discuss her long and distinguished career in the electricity sector, the future of the utility sector, her time on the Energy Resources Council and her approach to leadership.
Episode 35: Eli Ellis is a researcher at the Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion at the School of Energy Resources. In this episode, Dr. Krutka and Mr. Ellis discuss his time as a student studing mechanical engineering at the University of Wyoming, why he wanted to stay in his home state of Wyoming and why he is choosing to spend his early career as part of an SER team researching technologies that consume Wyoming coal for non-energy uses. Mr. Ellis specifically discusses his work on a process called 'pyrolysis' the generates a char that is being used for a wide variety of novel products.
Episode 36: Like most energy states, Wyoming has stranded infrastructure as a result of the boom and busts associated with energy production, including in the Powder River Basin where a coal bed methane industry has been decimated by a decade of low natural gas prices. An original UW School of Energy Resources center of excellence, the Center for Biogenic Natural Gas Research, was created to find ways to leverage that stranded infrastructure. Led by Dr. Michael Urynowicz, the Center invented a way to use the microorganisms in deep coal seams to create new, renewable gas using agricultural waste. That technology is being commercialized by a spin off company called Cowboy Clean Fuels, led by CEO Ryan Waddington, which aims. Cowboy Clean Fuels has big aspirations and could change the fate of stranded infrastructure while creating new Wyoming energy products. In this episode Dr. Krutka sits down with Dr. Urynowicz and Mr. Waddington to talk science, technology, and commercialization.
Episode 37: It is often said that nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance and Wyoming has the opportunity to play a significant role in several different areas of this dynamic industry. The Equality State’s first nuclear energy power plant is TerraPower’s NatriumTM demonstration facility, which is under construction in Kemmerer. Wyoming has the opportunity to leverage this first-of-a-kind plant to grow its nuclear energy sector to create jobs and economic development. In this episode, Dr. Krutka interviews Jeff Navin, TerraPower’s Director of External Affairs, to discuss the many factors driving a resurgence in nuclear energy in Wyoming, the Nation and the world – and to talk about the reason Wyoming was selected as the first host site.
Episode 38: As the least populated state in the Nation, and a place where outdoor recreation is a way of life, Wyomingites deeply value wild lands and wildlife. Balancing energy production with Wyoming’s respect for the natural world requires diverse stakeholders to work together to find balance. Perhaps no organization is more emblematic of such collaboration than the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, led by executive director Bobb Budd. Mr. Budd sits down with Dr. Krutka to talk about the Trust, the sage-grouse implementation team (SIGT), how industry, state and federal stakeholders, conservation groups have successfully increased habitat for this important bird and how Wyoming’s process might be a model for protecting wildlife habitat in the west and beyond.
Episode 39: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and other forms of digital innovation have become buzzwords, but these increasingly common terms underly powerful technologies that can be applied to the energy sector. In this episode, Dr. Krutka sits down with Dr. Soheil Saraji, the director of the newest center of excellence at the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources – the center for Subsurface Energy and Digital Innovation, to discuss how these technologies work, why they might be useful to Wyoming’s energy sector, and what opportunities may await students entering this field of study.
Episode 40: Despite some recent increases, Wyoming continues to have low cost electricity compared to national averages – even as the state weighs different energy sources and innovative options like nuclear energy and carbon capture and storage. The current Chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission, Mary Throne, talks about her journey to serve on the Commission, how the Commission functions and why she thinks Wyoming is the right place for energy innovation.
Episode 41: In this episode, we explore the cutting-edge world of coal-derived asphalt with experts Trina Pfeiffer, Director of the UW School of Energy Resources, Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion, and Dr. Jeramie Adams, Vice President at Western Research Institute. Discover how Wyoming, a state rich in coal resources, is leading the charge in developing sustainable and high-performance asphalt for our roads and infrastructure. Learn about the innovative processes, environmental benefits, economic potential and collaborative research and development process underpinning this groundbreaking technology. Tune in to uncover the future of pavements, right here from the heart of Wyoming.
Episode 42: From coal mines to rare earths to a cutting-edge nuclear reactor, Wyoming has a rich energy history (and future). On this episode of Energy Frontier: The Wyoming Landscape, Dr. Holly Krutka sits down with Rita Meyer, a long-time Wyoming resident with a front-row seat to this evolution. They discuss Rita's remarkable career, her insights on the state's diverse energy landscape, and why Wyoming's unique blend of resources, expertise, and supportive environment makes it a prime location for energy innovation – including the exciting potential of nuclear power and her involvement with TerraPower's Natrium power plant under construction today. They also discuss Ms. Meyer's leadership approach, developed from her life in the military, public service and the energy sector. Join us for a fascinating conversation about the past, present, and future of energy in The Equality State.
Episode 43: Wyoming's wind energy potential is unsurpassed. How much of that potential will ultimately be developed remains to be seen. On this episode, we sit down with UW Mechanical Engineering professors Jonathan Naughton and Michael Stoellinger, co-directors of the Wind Energy Research Center, to discuss the true potential of Wyoming's abundant wind resources, as well as the economic development opportunities, technological advancements, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. Join us as we uncover the facts and explore the exciting opportunities that wind energy presents for the Cowboy State.
