Veteran journalist Robert Bryce to speak at University of Idaho Energy Symposium

MOSCOW, Idaho —Energy, power, politics and innovation author, journalist and film producer Robert Bryce will speak on the University of Idaho Moscow campus during the inaugural Energy Symposium Wednesday and Thursday, March 4-5.

Bryce has spent more than four decades exploring the intersection of energy, power, politics and innovation. He is the author of six influential books, including his latest, “A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations.” He is widely recognized for his analysis of global energy trends. The keynote address will be held at 7 p.m. March 4 in the Bruce M. Pitman Center International Ballroom on U of I’s Moscow campus.

Bryce’s keynote is part of the first Energy Symposium hosted by the U of I Energy Institute. The event brings together global experts, industry leaders, educators, students and community members to tackle one of the most urgent challenges facing the modern energy system — how to responsibly permit and build the infrastructure needed to deliver reliable, affordable energy while protecting communities and the environment.

“Energy availability, reliability and cost are increasingly central concerns for households, businesses and policymakers,” said John Kumm, executive director of the U of I Energy Institute. “Modern energy systems must balance environmental stewardship with the urgent need to build and upgrade infrastructure. This symposium creates space for the thoughtful, informed conversations needed to move that work forward.”

The symposium will focus on the permitting processes that govern energy generation and transmission projects — a critical safeguard for natural, historical and cultural resources that can also introduce years of delay and significant costs. In some cases, projects face permitting timelines stretching a decade or more, impacting system reliability and increasing costs for energy customers.

The Energy Symposium will be held on the second floor of the Bruce M. Pitman Center on University of Idaho’s campus in Moscow. Registration is open to industry professionals, city leaders, students and community members. For more information or to register, visit go.uidaho.edu/energy-institute. The keynote is open to the public, and attendees may register to attend only this session. Keynote registration is $50 for adults, $35 for seniors and $15 for students with ID.

The symposium is organized by the U of I Energy Institute, which brings together researchers, students and industry partners across academia, industry and government to strengthen energy literacy for the next generation of Idaho’s community and business leaders.

Media Note: Robert Bryce and John Kumm are available for interview upon request.

Media contact

John Kumm
U of I Energy Institute executive director
208-885-4224
jkumm@uidaho.edu

Alexiss Turner
Marketing and communications manager
University of Idaho College of Engineering
208-885-7511
alexisst@uidaho.edu