Daily Egyptian THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
Energy researchers dig for solutions
VOL. 99 ISSUE 97
SINCE 1916
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
Slacklining in his spare time
SAM BEARD | @SAMBEARD_DE
Alternatives to non-renewable energy sources are popular, but not perfect. With the ever-increasing regulations put on energy suppliers, coal, gas and oil companies are turning to academics for help in figuring out how to continue extraction operations while staying in compliance with emission restrictions. Representatives from fossil fuel and energy companies, faculty and students will discuss the future of energy research and education at the Regional Energy Forum, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. Since 2008, American solar panel installations have increased seventeenfold, according to the U.S. Office of Energy. Even with the rise of solar panels and windmills, some energy experts say it is too soon to put all the eggs in the renewable-energy basket. Tomasz Wiltowski, director of the Advanced Coal and Energy Research Center, said academia and business have the same interest in boosting efficiency of fossil fuel usage and researching how industry can comply with governmental regulations to continue extraction operations. “This energy forum can help us collaborate more closely. This we call an industry-academia alliance,” Wiltowski said. “Having both parties at this meeting will give the opportunity for everyone to talk and present their concerns, ideas, concepts and needs.” He said working with corporations is good for the university because it will generate more funds for faculty, research and student-workers. Wiltowski said the university is not doing much research on renewable energy because outside funds for research, such as grants from corporations or governmental initiatives, are virtually non-existent. Peter Schuburt, director of Indiana’s Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy, said Friday’s forum will offer a chance for the energy centers to put their forces together in an effort to get grants from the federal government. He said the use of renewables reduces environmental impact, stimulates the local economy and lessens America’s dependence on foreign sources. “By using more renewables, we’re reducing our impact on the climate, as well as land and water pollution, which are associated with fossil fuel extraction and consumption,” he said. Please see COAL | 2
Above: Cody Lennon, a senior from Carbondale studying outdoor recreation, sits on webbing ratcheted to two trees, called a slackline, in the wooded area east of Lawson Hall. Lennon, who is a rental cage manager for Outdoor Pursuits, said he was doing this to bring attention to Outdoor Pursuits. “When people walk by they kind of turn their heads,” he said. “Then we can lure them in and tell them about all the great things we’re doing.” He said the the activity could calm the mind for some. “It’s very therapeutic,” Lennon said. “When you’re on the line, it takes so much focus that whatever else is going on in your life, you can’t really focus on any of that or else your’e going to fall over.” Left: Cody Lennonbalances on the slackline Wednesday. He said students sometimes are not be aware of the services offered at the Recreation Center. “We have all this super cool stuff going on at the Rec Center,” Lennon said. He said slacklining is mostly for enjoyment. “The point of Slacklining is there is no point,” he said. “You’re kind of just doing it.” J ORDAN D UNCAN @jordanduncanDE
“When you’re on the line, it takes so much focus that whatever else is going on in your life, you can’t really fous on any of that or else you’re going to fall over.” - Cody Lennon senior
Americans see Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush as presidential material, Bloomberg poll finds JENNIFER EPSTEIN | BLOOMBERG
When it comes to Americans envisioning a 2016 presidential candidate moving into the White House, Hillary Clinton has the edge. Nearly half of U.S. adults say they have a “realistic vision”
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of Clinton being president, outpacing any of the seven Democratic and Republican candidates tested on the question, according to a new Bloomberg Politics national poll. Jeb Bush fares best among the Republicans with 40 percent, compared to Clinton’s 47 percent, and Donald
Trump fares worst with 29 percent. Fifty-two percent say they can’t see Clinton as president and 57 percent say the same about Bush — lower than the 69 percent who say they can’t see Trump taking the job. In a race where political outsiders seem to grow stronger every week, this is one area where
experience seems to be a plus: Clinton is a former first lady, senator, and secretary of state; Bush is a former Florida governor and the son and brother of expresidents; and the billionaire Trump is making his first foray into electoral politics. Please see POLL | 4