UW’s SER Kicks Off ‘Energy Roadshow’ in Rawlins

The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) is launching an “Energy Roadshow” public outreach series. The first meeting will take place in Rawlins Thursday, June 27.

The meeting will be from noon-2 p.m. at the Rawlins Library, located at 215 W. Buffalo St. The event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided.

The series is intended to provide a platform for community members across the state to learn about different research and energy projects led by SER; specific projects going on in the area; and general information about the energy industry in Wyoming.

“It is so important to have in-community events, and the summer months in Wyoming are optimal to be traveling and having a presence in the communities around the state,” says Christine Reed, SER’s director of outreach. “SER has so many research projects going on all over Wyoming, and we wanted to provide the opportunity for the public to engage, ask questions and learn more about the potential positive impacts these projects may have on the energy industry and local economy.”

The focus of the Rawlins meeting will be on hydrogen energy in southwest Wyoming. In particular, the team will present on a collaborative project integrating a produced water thermal desalinization technology along with autothermal or steam methane reforming for efficient hydrogen production near Wamsutter. Partnered with Los Alamos National Laboratory; Engineering, Procurement & Construction LLC; and Williams, one of the nation’s largest energy infrastructure companies, the project aims to demonstrate hydrogen production using water produced during oil and gas extraction.

Members of SER’s Hydrogen Energy Research Center (H₂ERC) will be featured speakers, including Eugene Holubnyak, director of H₂ERC; Charles Nye, a senior research professional and project manager, who also serves as a co-principal investigator on the project; and Sarah Buckhold, a research professional.

“We recognize that a lot of these projects sound highly technical and outside the box of traditional energy development,” Holubnyak says. “We look forward to checking in with the public to ensure that we are clarifying what it means, addressing any concerns and making sure the goals of the project are aligned with community priorities.”

The Energy Roadshow is planned to become a permanent feature in the annual SER events calendar.

To learn more about upcoming meetings or to request a meeting in your area, email Reed at christine.reed@uwyo.edu or go to www.uwyo.edu/ser/events/energy-roadshow.html.