Lower Saxony premier to highlight Germany’s energy agenda at Baker Institute lecture Oct. 1

BY FRANZ BROTZEN
Rice News staff

Oil was discovered 150 years ago in the northern German state of Lower Saxony. Today, Lower Saxony is a leader in the development of the nation’s domestic energy, providing more than 90 percent of Germany’s domestic natural gas production and a majority of its wind energy.

	CHRISTIAN WULFF

Christian Wulff, the premier of Lower Saxony, will speak on “Technology to Help Meet Germany’s Cleaner Energy Future” Oct. 1 at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. The speech will be followed by a panel discussion with experts on oil, natural gas, wind and geothermal energy.

Panel members will include Tim Cejka, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company; Antonio Coutinho, chief energy management officer at Horizon Wind Energy; and Friedhelm Makohl, vice president of marketing at Baker Hughes.

The event will explore the potential for unconventional resources and renewable energy as part of Germany’s future. It will focus on Lower Saxony’s important role as a center for research and development, as well as energy production and innovation.

The event is organized by the Baker Institute’s Energy Forum and will begin at 2 p.m. in Baker Hall’s Kelly International Conference Facility. A reception will follow.

Rice students, faculty and staff who wish to attend must RSVP by fax to 713.348.5993, by e-mail to bipprsvp@rice.edu or on the Web at www.bakerinstitute.org/events/wulff before Sept. 28.