energy, resources and environment program - Johns Hopkins ...

The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Energy, Resources and Environment Program
Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology Field Visits
Frontiers in Energy, Science and Technology (FEST)
To supplement its rigorous academic curriculum, the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced
International Studies - Energy, Resources and Environment Program, also developed the Frontiers in
Energy, Science and Technology (FEST) Field Visits initiative to provide its students with first-hand
experience visiting a utilities, nuclear power and LNG plants, hydraulic fracturing and off-shore oil
facilities, sewage treatment plants, and solar panel manufacturing facilities, among others. FEST offers
student enrichment activities designed to provide first-hand exposure to innovations in the energy and
environment sectors.
2011-2012 Program Activities
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) – November 18, 2011; November 9, 2012
• 15 students
• Visited FERC headquarters in downtown Washington, DC
• Met with the Director of Public Affairs and technical support staff
• Students gained a better understanding of US energy regulation, complexities of federal energy
laws and how FERC helps to coordinate energy distribution between states, given different state
laws and different state interests (e.g., if a state in the south wants to obtain gas/oil from
somewhere in the north, the states in between have to give their approval for pipeline
construction, and this could cause conflicts and delays)
Morgantown Generating Station – February 24, 2012
• 21 students
• Visited a coal-powered electrical plant in Charles County, MD with a 1467 megawatt capacity
• Met with a team of engineers and senior plant operators
• Heard a presentation about inputs for coal-powered electricity, costs of building and
maintaining a power plant (very high, can only build a plant if there is a near-guarantee that
energy demand will be high enough for the investors to recoup construction costs over time);
learned about electricity production and pricing, EPA regulations and compliance
• Observed heavy machinery, control room, furnace, scrubbers that remove environmental
contaminants
• Learned about the coordination process between an external energy production regulator and
the power plants that actually complete the energy production process
US Green Building Council – March 2, 2012; October 26, 2012
• 5-7 students
• Tour of USGBC Platinum Headquarters in downtown Washington, DC (USGBC developed the
LEED building certification system)
• Met with researchers
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