On April 22, 2022 KLRN Public Television hosted a virtual screening of the PBS and Amazon Prime series Power Trip: The Story of Energy. This screening featured the "Best of Season One" episode, followed by a discussion about careers focused on energy and the environment with Julia Murphy, the Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer for City of San Antonio’s Office of Sustainability, Heather Ginsburg, the Field Education Programs Coordinator for the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), and Angela Rodriguez the Director of Climate Strategy & Sustainability at CPS Energy, moderated by Juan Garcia, the President of Disco Learning Media.
Filmed around the world, Power Trip uncovers the hidden energy that is embedded in our modern way of life and takes viewers on a journey through the past, present and future of energy. As our world population expands we face growing demand for energy, and the stakes to avoid environmental, climate, and natural disasters are high. But history shows us that energy’s great value is that it allows societies to reinvent themselves.
This event was powered by Itron, Inc. and CPS Energy as part of the Smart Energy Education initiative in partnership with KLRN Public Television, The University of Texas at Austin, Disco Learning Media, and Alpheus Media.
Power Trip: The Story of Energy - Best of Season One
KLRN PBS OVEE Earth Day Post-Screening Panel Discussion
Watch the Trailer for Power Trip: The Story of Energy
Water and energy are the two fundamental components of a society, and they are interconnected. Educating students on the world's energy resources, how they contribute to our daily lives, and the consequences of wasteful practices is critical to shaping a more resourceful world.
The city of San Antonio, for example, has a great history of sustainability and energy conservation efforts, recently even announcing its plan to be carbon neutral by the year 2050. Their consistent push toward a clean energy future makes them a leading city in the nation for sustainability practices. This is why Smart Energy Education and the Watt Watchers of Texas were proud to recently partner with the City of San Antonio, CPS Energy, Itron, Inc., and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to provide a free, in-person screening of the energy and water documentary Thirst for Power for over 300 San Antonio area high schoolers at The Tobin Center for Performing Arts.
Thirst for Power, shot on location across France, California, and Texas, explores the history of civilization’s quest to procure abundant water and energy — from ancient Roman aqueducts in Europe to modern America’s vast hydroelectric infrastructure. The film explores our dependence on water for energy as well as vulnerabilities in our current systems. Changing the way we think about water and energy can secure the long-term sustainability of both precious resources. The documentary combines anecdotes and personal stories with insights into the latest science of energy and water, and identifies a hopeful path toward wise long-range water-energy decisions and a more reliable and abundant future for humanity.
In celebration of World Water Day, the March 25th screening event focused on the history of water resources, the connection between water and energy - otherwise known as the water-energy nexus - and its contribution and influence on our modern-day lives. Prior to the start of the event, students had the opportunity to play a series of interactive Kahoot games to test their water and energy knowledge. The event was then kicked off by Mayor Ron Nirenberg, followed by the documentary screening, and culminating with a panel of local students moderated by Dr. Michael E. Webber, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Thirst for Power. The event concluded with a call to action and words of inspiration for the future from the CEO and President of SAWS, Mr. Robert R. Puente.
According to the United Nations world water development report 2021, throughout the past century, the global use of freshwater has increased by a factor of 6 and will likely continue to grow by about 1% each year. These statistics prove that we, as parents and educators, need to emphasize water sustainability education. Education on water and energy is more critical now than ever before; Smart Energy Education contains world-class energy education resources available to educators, families, and communities all around the world. So even those who are unable to make it to live events can still access fantastic learning resources to use at home or in the classroom.
As we say at Smart Energy Education; “The way we manage energy and water will define the century”. So with education, collaboration, and innovation we can inspire and help create a more resourceful world.
Energy can be both the cause and the instrument of modern war.
On March 31, 2022 KLRN Public Television hosted a virtual screening of the PBS and Amazon Prime series Power Trip: The Story of Energy. This screening featured the WAR episode, followed by a discussion with Power Trip author and energy expert Dr. Michael E. Webber, Founder and President of Ecospherics Sharon E. Burke, and Power Trip series director Mat Hames, and was moderated by Patricia Schouker, the Director of Strategy at PolySwarm and Non-Resident Fellow at the Science Diplomacy Center and the Payne Institute.
Filmed around the world, Power Trip uncovers the hidden energy that is embedded in our modern way of life and takes viewers on a journey through the past, present and future of energy. As our world population expands we face growing demand for energy, and the stakes to avoid environmental, climate, and natural disasters are high. But history shows us that energy’s great value is that it allows societies to reinvent themselves.
This event was powered by Itron, Inc. and CPS Energy as part of the Smart Energy Education initiative in partnership with KLRN Public Television, The University of Texas at Austin, Disco Learning Media, and Alpheus Media.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsqN0sajT8A[/embedyt]Recorded March 31, 2022
Watch the War Episode Trailer from Power Trip: The Story of Energy
In partnership with CPS Energy, Itron, Inc., the Best Earth Ever (BEE) Project, Students of Service (SOS) San Antonio, and Disco Learning Media, The 2021 CPS Energy Summer Fellowship Program provided San Antonio-area high school and university students access to award-winning films, online educational resources, hands-on learning opportunities, and the unique chance to engage with energy industry experts.
By participating in the Fellowship students gained valuable career experience and connected with their peers who are also passionate about creating a better, more sustainable world for tomorrow.
Are you a champion of change and want to take action? Please enjoy the recap of our live, virtual events from August 4 and 5th below.
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August 4, 2021:
Future of Energy Virtual Workshop
During this workshop students were introduced to the Fellowship’s community service project, learned more about green careers, and discovered how important water is to the future of energy.
Video:
- Introductions and Overview
- SOS Overview of Sustainable Garden Community Service Project
- BEE Project showcases how to create and optimize a LinkedIn profile to connect with green industry professionals
- MakeWater.org live water kit demonstration
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-knZWuzDZfI[/embedyt]
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August 5, 2021:
Future of Energy Virtual Screening & Panel
What is the future of energy?
In partnership with KLRN Public Television, the Best Earth Ever (BEE) Project, Disco Learning Media, and SOS San Antonio, CPS Energy Summer Fellowship students and the community were invited to participate in a virtual screening of the award-winning docuseries Power Trip: The Story of Energy. The screening featured the 30 minute "Best of Season One" showcase, followed by a Q&A moderated by author and energy expert Dr. Michael E. Webber, along with graduating interns from the BEE Project.
This event was powered by CPS Energy and Itron, Inc. as part of the CPS Energy Summer Fellowship Program and the Smart Energy Education initiative, in partnership with KLRN Public Television, the BEE Project, Students of Service San Antonio, the Paramount Theatre, The University of Texas at Austin, and Alpheus Media. To learn more visit www.smartenergyeducation.com.
A Message from CPS Energy CEO Paula Gold-Williams:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTm15y6f_cM[/embedyt]Power Trip: The Story of Energy - Best of Season One
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sqLsK1dd18[/embedyt]The Future of Energy Panel Discussion
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaP6PD3XC6g[/embedyt]
Recorded April 22, 2021
In celebration of Earth Day 2021, KLRN Public Television and Green Spaces Alliances of South Texas hosted a virtual conversation about how water and energy are interconnected, how they play a critical role in our modern society (like the Texas power grid failure in February 2021), and how you can help us manage these resources through land conservation and education
The conversation began with a sneak peek of the PBS and Amazon Prime documentary series Power Trip: The Story of Energy, based on the book by Dr. Michael E. Webber, professor at The University of Texas at Austin and Chief Science and Technology Officer at ENGIE. Following the screening, Dr. Webber was joined by Texas State Representative Gina Hinojosa and Doug Dillow, CEO of Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, for a live Q&A session moderated by Erin Douglas, the environment reporter for the Texas Tribune.
This event was powered by Itron, Inc and CPS Energy as part of the Smart Energy Education initiative in partnership with KLRN Public Television, the Texas Youth Climate Corp, the Paramount Theatre, The University of Texas at Austin, and Alpheus Media.
Watch clips from Power Trip: The Story of Energy
Image Credits: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation/public domain.
