Kentucky Forward: Energy Realities and Opportunities

News
July 18, 2012
Day two of Chamber’s Business Summit focuses on economy, energy, education
 
 
The luncheon keynote featured the U.S. Chamber’s Karen Harbert. Harbert serves as the President and CEO of the Institute for 21st Century Energy which seeks commonsense energy solutions to secure America’s future. The session, Energy Realities and Opportunities, provided listeners with a thorough portrayal of America’s current energy landscape and where we are headed over the next fifty years.
 
Harbert noted that, while it pales in comparison to some developing nations such as China and India, the country’s demand for energy will only continue to grow. She sees our future as a combination of both fossil fuels and alternative forms of energy, but believes neither can be stifled by government regulation or industry will never thrive.
 
Harbert also expressed great concern with our nation’s ability to provide industry with the talent to grow and develop our energy portfolio. Sensible energy policies go hand-in-hand with job growth, but not without the talent of engineers and scientists. Overall, she painted a picture of a country where much work remains to be done, but one where a sustainable energy portfolio is possible and necessary for a competitive future.