Studying Local and National Energy Markets
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Photo by Rosie Mueller.
During the Fall 2022 semester, several faculty and staff members are working with students and community partners on many thoughtful and exciting collaborative projects, which are administered by Whitman's Community-Engaged Learning and Research Initiative (CELRI). This week's feature: studying local and national energy markets in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics with Assistant Professor of Economics Rosie Mueller.
Mueller’s class is thinking broadly about energy market transitions and recent energy policy proposals at the local and federal level. Specifically, they are collaborating on a Benefit-Cost Analysis of real-world policies, finding data, considering the timing of when benefits and costs will occur, and identifying which constituent groups ultimately bear the benefits and the costs. Examples include the new Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center near the Tri Cities, the proposed breaching of the Lower Snake River Dams, the California ban on gasoline powered vehicles and the call to ban fracking on federal lands.
On September 22, the class traveled to the Tucannon River Wind Farm near Dayton, Washington. Whitman Manager of Investments Justin Rodegerdts ‘05 accompanied the class on the trip. Students learned about the economics of wind energy, including how leasing farmland to utility companies both provides renewable energy to residential consumers across Oregon and Washington and also financially benefits private landowners, including Whitman College.
On October 27, the class traveled to Ice Harbor Dam near the Tri-Cities, where they met with representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received a full tour, including hydropower turbines, fish ladders and spillways, and navigation lock. The class discussed the benefits of the Columbia River Basin dams to electricity producers and wheat farmers in the region, and concerns about fish passage and declining native salmon populations.
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Noteworthy: Faculty Promotions
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This academic year, several faculty members received promotions that reflect their contributions to their departments and the Whitman College community.
Promotion to Full Professor:
Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor:
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Matthew Bost (Rhetoric, Writing, & Public Discourse)
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Tarik Elseewi (Film and Media Studies)
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Maria Lux (Art)
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Marian Manic (Economics)
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John Stratton (Computer Science)
Promotion to Senior Rank:
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Chetna Chopra (Rhetoric, Writing and Public Discourse; General Studies)
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Stan Thayne (Environmental Studies)
Read more about each of these faculty members.
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Weekly Decolonizing Christianity Discussion Group
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Interfaith Chaplain Adam Kirtley facilitates a weekly Decolonizing Christianity discussion that explores, through a Christian lens, the ways in which the Bible can be seen as a tool of oppression and of liberation. Fridays at 2 p.m. in the All Faiths Room (Reid 110). All are welcome. No sign up, no prep, and no homework!
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Buddhist Wisdom Talk on Sunday
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The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life in partnership with Walla Walla Dharma Sangha present "Climate of Mind: Buddhist Wisdom on Our Fear of the Future," at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6 in the All Faiths Room, Reid Campus Center. The event features a talk and conversation with Debra Seido Martin, the Soto Zen guiding teacher of the Zen West-Empty Field Buddhist Community in Eugene, Oregon. A light lunch will be provided following the presentation.
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Virtual Talk on Ukraine War on Monday
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The Politics department will present an interactive virtual talk, "The Ukraine War and the Necessity of Independent Media," at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7. Speaker Patricia Zimmerman is the author or editor of 10 books and her writing on Ukraine and independent media is published in "Docalogue" and "The Edge."
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Wind-Up Birds Release New EP
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On campus band Wind-Up Birds released a new extended play record (EP) today titled "Domesticated Reflection." The new project blends psychedelic rock and pop influences in what the band describes as their most ambitious project to date. Find the new EP wherever you stream music.
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In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since yesterday, two people with Whitman access were confirmed positive for COVID-19.
Please continue to follow all our campus COVID-19 protocols to help prevent transmission. If you have any symptoms that may be COVID-19 or know that you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please be tested. Additional masks and rapid test kits are available in the front entryway at the Welty Student Health Center during normal operating hours.
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Z-Fit
Reid Campus Center Side Lawn
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