Power Across Texas to Announce Winner in Energy Innovation Challenge
AUSTIN, Texas, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – After months of work, the winner of the 2013 Texas Energy Innovation Challenge (TEIC) will be selected on Friday, March 1(st) at the Texas State Capitol. The TEIC is a signature program of Power Across Texas (PAT), a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to balancing the debate over the best way to ensure a clean, robust and reliable power supply in Texas. This 2nd annual competition focuses on the lack of access to electricity among residents of the colonias of South Texas. Graduate students from inter-disciplinary academic programs at three of Texas’ flagship universities (Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin) have taken the challenge of finding innovative solutions.
“This is an exciting day for Power Across Texas,” stated Chair Becky Klein noting that “these future leaders have been tasked with a daunting challenge: to find new business models, policy work-arounds and energy technology solutions that can enable residents in colonias to gain access to power without continued dependence on philanthropy or government.”
The TEIC, to be held from 9 am to 12 pm in Room E1.012 of the Texas State Capitol, will feature remarks by Texas Secretary of State John Steen followed by the oral presentations of the student teams to an august panel of 12 judges with technical, industry, policy and economic expertise. The judges will select the winning team and recipient of a $10,000 scholarship prize (2(nd) place receives $7,000 and 3(rd) place receives $5,000).
Texas Secretary of State John Steen stated, “I commend the vision of Power Across Texas to help bring private sector solutions to address social needs in our State, such as access to basic infrastructure. Power Across Texas is helping find the intersection between money and meaning in innovative and powerful ways.”
Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. stated, “The people in the South Texas Colonias are a vibrant part of our Texas culture and our economy. I appreciate the leadership Power Across Texas is taking to explore ways these citizens can access power affordably and reliably, and in turn, help mitigate poverty and crime while enhancing their health, earning power, and dignity.”
To watch the event online:
- PCs/laptops: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php
- Mobile devices: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/mytlo/mobile/cmteVideo.aspx?chamber=S
Please visit our website www.poweracrosstexas.org or email info@poweracrosstexas.org for more information.
Contact: Lyda Creus Molanphy
(512) 751-1636
SOURCE Power Across Texas
