
Event Details
When:
-
Location:
Online: Zoom
In-Person at WWU
Science Lecture 150
Price:
Free
Brought to you by:
Institute for Energy Studies, The Foundation for WWU & Alumni
Description
Check out this video to watch the The Technology Behind Wind Power's Resilience.
Wind energy now generates 12% of U.S. electricity, with growing capacity making it cheaper than solar and natural gas power. To maintain this competitive edge, the industry needs ongoing innovation. Wind turbine technology is evolving to meet rising electricity demands while addressing challenges in land use, social impact, power transmission, and environmental concerns. The next generation of taller turbines can handle complex high-altitude wind patterns, while new innovations boost power generation even in low-wind areas. However, as wind farms multiply, turbine placement becomes critical—one farm's turbines can reduce power output from others downwind. Building wind farms closer to power consumers offers advantages: fewer transmission lines and stronger local power grids. This presentation will explore how Sandia National Laboratories tackles these technical challenges to strengthen U.S. energy security.
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Featuring:

Geoff Klise ('98), Speaker
Geoff Klise is currently the laboratory program manager for wind energy at Sandia National Laboratories, which encompasses two departments focusing on wind energy design & experimentation, and computational sciences. He has worked at Sandia since 2006 supporting and leading research in transboundary water resource modeling, water impacts of fossil and renewables fuel production and power generation, carbon sequestration, solar power plant reliability and residential solar real estate impacts. Prior to Sandia, he worked as a geologist and hydrogeologist supporting water rights and environmental remediation activities in the Puget Sound region for private industry and the Washington State Department of Ecology. He has bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Engineering Geology from WWU, and a Master of Water Resources degree from the University of New Mexico.
Questions and Accommodations
- Your point of contact for this event is The Foundation for WWU & Alumni. Call (360) 650-3353 or email Alumni@wwu.edu.
- Advance notice for disability accommodations and special needs is appreciated. Please mention your needs when registering.
- There will be auto-captions for the Zoom webinar.
Visitor Parking at WWU on Weekdays
- Mon-Fri, 7:00am-4:30pm: limited paid parking is available at the south C lots and north 6V and 7G lots.
- Purchase your permit at the lot pay stations or use the Parkmobile app.
- More parking details for campus visitors are available online.
Parking at WWU on Weekdays for Visitors with Disabilities
- Mon-Fri, 7:00am-4:30pm: both a WWU permit and state disability placard are needed.
- Purchase your permit at the pay stations in lot C or 6V or use the Parkmobile app (use Zone 1200). This allows parking in any disability space. If these are full, you can use a non-reserved space nearby.
- More parking details for campus visitors with disabilities are available online.
The views expressed by our speaker do not necessarily reflect those of Western Washington University.