Press Release

July 25, 2007

WETC, NEF AND UTAH STATE OFFICE JOIN FOR THINK! ENERGY SUPER TOUR OF UTAH ENERGY-PRODUCING RESOURCES

Contact:
Dr. Robert Topping, Ed.D
Coordinator (WETC)
(435) 613-5504

Sunny Dent
Vice President Program Operations (NEF) (801) 908-5800

The Western Energy Training Center (WETC) and the National Energy Foundation (NEF) are facilitating a three-day Energy Super Tour.

A composite of K-12 educators from Utah will tour strategic energy-producing resource facilities throughout the state. The tour will focus on the energy-rich areas of Carbon, Duchesne, and Emery counties. As many as 60 educators are expected to attend the tour, including technology and science teachers, work-based learning specialists and administrators. The participants will become familiar with a variety of energy topics like: solar energy (Department of Natural Resources), methane generated electricity (Salt Lake Landfill), nuclear energy (Energy Solutions, Inc.), oil drilling (Roosevelt), gas (Oso Energy Resources, Inc.), mining (Utah American Energy, Inc.), power generation (PacifiCorp Energy), clean coke manufacturing (Terra Systems) and energy transportation (Savage Services Corporation).

WETC and NEF emphasize that the most significant outcome for the Energy Super Tour is to develop a universal sense of energy literacy in Utah. WETC Director Steven Burge said, “This is an excellent

opportunity to get Utah educators out there to experience the reality of the energy industry and see first-hand what is going on. It is also a great way for them to see the diversity of energy resources we have available in this state and across the country.” The hope is that after seeing the variety of energy-producing methods and wide range of techniques used, the educators will take what they have learned and find ways to implement this new comprehensive information into their instructional activities.

The Western Energy Training Center is a resource for existing and prospective employees of the energy industry. With the center located in Eastern Utah, WETC helps to develop the skills and technical expertise needed for the 21st century and the growing demand for energy industry workers. NEF, a WETC partner, is a 30-year-old organization that is based in Salt Lake City and is associated with many big players in the energy industry. Dr. Robert Topping, Ed. D., Training Director of WETC, pointed out that “NEF’s program works toward the same goals that WETC has developed for education. Getting young people involved is the key to the future success of the energy industry. Ultimately, the object is to create a more energy-literate society. Working with NEF has only accelerated growth that will hopefully continue.”

The Energy Super Tour is yet another step for WETC and NEF to achieve the goal of energy literacy. We anticipate this Energy Super Tour to be a great success, having a significant impact on Utah’s educators.

Media interested in covering the Super Tour should contact Karin Odendahl-Zmerzlikar: 435-613-5518 or at karin.odendahl@ceu.edu.

www.westernenergytraining.org
www.nef1.org