APRIL 16, 2009 ISSUE
U.S. Senator Hagan Visits High Country
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), pictured in red shirt, speaks with ASU renewable energy experts and university officials in front of the photovoltaic system at Raley Hall on Wednesday.
During her visit, Hagan, pictured below, got a firsthand look at new emissions-testing technology from, left to right, ASU Department of Technology Professor Jeff Ramsdell and ASU Technology graduate students Eric Urban and Matt Fedorko. Photos by Ken Ketchie
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) stressed that a “green economy” was important to the future of the state and nation as she visited ASU on Wednesday to learn more about the university’s renewable and alternative energy projects.
During the visit, Hagan met with ASU Chancellor Kenneth Peacock, ASU Research Institute for Environment, Energy and Economics Director John Pine, ASU Department of Technology Professor Jeff Ramsdell, ASU Appropriate Technology graduate students—who showed Hagan the inner workings of a vehicle run on renewable energy—and ASU Renewable Energy Initiative President Crystal Simmons, who, in the top photo, is pointing toward the future site of the university’s wind turbine at the Broyhill Inn.
“What you are doing here is good not only for Appalachian, it’s good for North Carolina and it’s good for America,” Hagan said. “We have got to become less dependent on foreign oil, and the way we are going to do that is through alternative energy and renewable energy sources. You are doing all the right things.”
More than $2.5 billion has been designated in the federal economic stimulus plan for energy research and Hagan wants to be sure North Carolina gets its share.
“The whole reason for the stimulus package is to put people back to work,” Hagan said. “Long term, I want to see jobs being created that can’t be outsourced. Renewable energy, green industry jobs are the jobs of the future. They are going to be good jobs and they are going to stay here [in the United States]. We need to work together to have that happen in the United States and here in North Carolina. Appalachian can be the conduit to really help.”
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