Author Archives: Cynthia Louise Walters

Lesson 3 What Have We Learned?

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  • What types of policies on the part of government could promote energy efficiency?
  • How would you develop a business that has the potential to move this idea forward?

Government policy is one of the best ways to make noteworthy changes in the energy world.  In an effort to promote energy efficiency, policies surrounding vehicle fuel economy could make an impact and drive companies to become more competitive in these fields.  Fuel economy has a tremendous impact on energy and fuel use in our country and the technology exists to make it more efficient.  Policies that increased the minimum mile-per-gallon for all new cars and light duty trucks would have a great effect.  Also, these policies would cause car manufacturers to work harder to achieve maximum fuel efficiency and compete with their counterparts.  This action drives research and technology forward in vehicle fuel economy.

A plausible business idea that would have the potential to move this idea forward is a company that could provide technical assistance and research for car companies to assist them in making informed decisions to enhance their fuel efficiency.  This business could be developed using researchers and scientists and even partnering with universities and local bodies of government to pull together all of the best information that is currently available, create a database or system to make that data usable, and further research and test new ideas.  This business would be vital to the car companies development of new technology and useful to them in meeting the standards set by the new policies.

Searching for the Entrepreneurial Niche – Cynthia Walters

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Nuclear energy has been around for many years and is therefore typically less risky of an investment due to the knowledge and reliability that it presents. Nuclear energy is also easier to manage and supply to consumers than most renewable sources of energy. Storage of the energy also presents a problem from renewable energy sources and this leads to difficulty in gathering support. The amount of energy that is produced through a nuclear source is more stable and does not rely on wind or sun; it is not intermittent like renewable sources. It is understood, solid, known, and reliable – all of these things lead to a stronger interest in supporting nuclear projects as opposed to renewable energy projects.

I think the greatest niche opportunities lie in renewable energy storage. We are in dire need of efficient ways to store energy created wind and solar in order to transfer it to the homes and businesses that could use it. If we had better technology for storing this renewable energy, there would be more support financially and overall in utilizing and expanding generation projects from renewable sources. The trick is to not only discover a reliable method for energy storage, but also to make it affordable and accessible.

Personal Introduction

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My name is Cynthia Walters, some people call me Cindy and you are welcome to use whichever you prefer. I don’t actually have a preference, I like both names. I grew up in Harrisburg, PA and I now live about 10 miles south of Harrisburg. I am currently enrolled in the World Campus based Energy and Sustainability Policy Program. It has been a wonderful experience being in this program, not only thanks to the curriculum but also the people involved. The other students, professors, course instructors, teaching assistants, and advisors all go above and beyond what is expected of them and seem passionate about what they do, which makes me proud to be a part of this group.

I work for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and I’ve actually been in State College this week training for our new Dairy program. Typically, I work in the State Office in Harrisburg, PA, although I do travel sometimes to our 38 County Offices throughout the state to assist with policy and programs. I’ve been with the agency for close to 8 years now, have learned so much, and have had the opportunity to write and interpret policy and implement programs for Pennsylvania. I hope to further my career with the Federal Government, I believe that we need as many good people working for our government as we can get!

I have never started a business myself and I know that I have a lot to learn when it comes to this topic. I believe that wind and solar energy businesses are making an impact on the renewable energy industry and will continue to grow as better technology is discovered. I am not looking into creating a business for myself because I feel that being a public servant is more important to me, but I am eager to learn about it as much as I can. I really hope to someday have to opportunity to help write and implement policy that could make this world a better, healthier, and happier place.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about me. I look forward to working with you all this semester!

Cindy