Sen. John Hickenlooper met with President Joyce McConnell, Vice President for Research Alan Rudolph, CSU Energy Institute Executive Director Bryan Willson, and others during an April 19 visit to CSU’s Powerhouse Energy Campus. Photos by Allison Vitt.
Colorado State University’s range of expertise in finding solutions to the climate crisis was on full display during an April 19 visit from U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper.
The senator from Colorado and several staff members spent the morning at the Powerhouse Energy Campus, visiting with students and faculty, learning about research projects and touring the Engines and Energy Conversion Lab – home to, among other things, a newly donated 3.5-megawatt natural gas turbine.
During his visit, which included remarks from President Joyce McConnell, Vice President for Research Alan Rudolph, CSU Energy Institute Executive Director Bryan Willson, and several others, Hickenlooper heard short presentations across a variety of topics, from CSU’s plans for making hydrogen power a major research focus with the help of the donated engine, to its sought-after work in methane leak detection in partnership with natural gas companies. Faculty, staff and students from the Energy Institute, Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences and others offered research briefings.
Among other topics discussed: sustainability practices in animal agriculture; harnessing soil as a carbon reservoir for climate mitigation; and the NASA-funded INCUS mission for better understanding of storms in the tropics.
Hickenlooper said he was astounded by the breadth of knowledge and solutions-driven research CSU is leading in the clean energy transition, as well as in training the next generation of workers – particularly in engineering and other STEM fields.
“So much of this is new territory, and Colorado and the western states are really taking the lead,” Hickenlooper said. He called CSU “the convening institution that is helping drive that change.”
The Powerhouse Energy Campus tour included a look at a recently donated 3.5-megawatt natural gas engine that will allow research on hydrogen fuels.
