The UW-Madison chapter of the Roosevelt Institution hosted the first Roosevelt Energy conference at Monona Terrace and the state Capitol this weekend, allowing students and private and public sector leaders from around the country to debate the best nationwide energy policy.
Max Bruner, a UW-Madison senior who helped develop the conference, said he thought the conference was a success, with an attendance rate higher than expected.
Being able to fill up the Assembly chambers was really something we'd worried about, but it was packed,"" Bruner said. ""The first session at 9:30 in the morning was standing room only - o - oit was really a test of people's interest.""
Bruner said the most exciting panel featured UW-Madison political science professor Joel Rogers and Edward Tirello, managing director at Berenson & Co., an independent investment banking firm in New York. They debated nuclear energy, the development of renewable and alternative energy sources and investment strategies within the United States.
Megan Sharrow, a UW-Madison alumna and the conference's energy policy head, led a panel that focused on state energy regulation.
She said the most pressing issue facing state energy regulations currently is how the state will meet energy demand.
""Right now Governor Doyle's Task Force is working toward energy independence, but I think Wisconsin does not have a lot of resources inside of its borders - o - ohow are we going to balance our independence goals with the fact that we have no resources with which to meet those goals?""
Sharrow saw the conference as a learning experience because it offered an environment for knowledgeable professionals to critique her ideas.
UW-Madison graduate student Joshua Clements led a panel showcasing how buildings affect the environment.
Clements said buildings use around 70 percent of the electricity in the United States and making them more energy efficient would decrease the amount of power plants built.
UW-Madison senior Joe Silberschmidt attended the conference and said he welcomed the chance to hear from experts on issues like climate change.
Silberschmidt said he hoped the conference raise awareness of how economic choices by consumers impact the environment, often in a negative way.
Bruner said UW-Madison's Roosevelt Institution chapter has begun planning for next year's energy conference.
He said the chapter has received requests from companies to host other issue-based conferences, such as health care.
""[There's] definitely a demand and interest in seeing these diverse forums because students have the ability to do it,"" he said.
