Students and energy policy leaders from around the country listened Thursday night as Chancellor John Wiley kicked off the Roosevelt Energy conference, which will address issues about energy conservation and efficiency until Saturday, Oct. 20.
According to Wiley, most political controversies and challenges faced by the country involve questions about energy at the core.
Panels during this weekend's conference will discuss issues such as state energy regulation, Wisconsin's current electrical situation and the effects of Iranian military processes on the United States energy market, according to Richard Dovere, executive director of the conference.
Wiley said it's necessary to keep an open mind when listening to controversial topics because of the wide range of opinions.
It doesn't hurt at all to listen to the opposition, not just respectfully, but really trying to learn,"" Wiley said.
""I really hope that this conference provides some answers, some insights, some templates that we can all think about and hopefully adopt.""
Nate Loewentheil, executive director of the Roosevelt Institution's national organization, said he thought students at the Institution's UW-Madison chapter were powerful and passionate about public policy research and connecting to local and state policy makers to discuss energy issues.
""That kind of attitude and enthusiasm for politics is lacking on college campuses and is lacking in communities and is a real danger to democracy,"" he said.
Loewentheil said although the Roosevelt Institution is only three years old, there are 7,000 students around the country in over 60 chapters working to make policy changes.
The Institution has also worked on issues regarding criminal justice and healthcare, he added.
Last year, students working on energy issues came out with a publication called ""25 Ideas,"" Loewentheil said, which outlines possible solutions for energy waste on college campuses, benefits of environmentally-friendly buildings and cars and ways to get rid of nuclear waste.
Wisconsin was the first state to regulate the energy industry in 1907 under Gov. Robert La Follette, he added, making it fitting that so much work is being done to solve energy problems.
The Roosevelt Energy panel discussions will be held at the state Capitol and Monona Terrace, and will be available for viewing on Wisconsin Eye online, Charter channel 200 and Time Warner channel 163. For more information go to http://rooseveltenergy.org/
