NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2009 – ASME will serve as an essential energy technology resource for business, government, academia, practicing engineers and the general public, and as a leading energy policy advocate, according to a recent ASME report which outlines the Society’s strengths and capabilities and future directions in the energy sector.

The report, named the ASME Energy Grand Challenge Roadmap, embodies the Society’s commitment to build and leverage ASME capabilities in energy to make increased contributions to the challenges facing the nation and the world.

Drawn from the proceedings of a two-day workshop held in March 2009 and attended by senior-level experts from the energy industry, government and academia, the roadmap provides an assessment of ASME’s existing capabilities and resources in energy and lists four priority areas in which the Society is committed to growing its role and impact.

The Society’s four priorities for energy are:

• To serve as an impartial, authoritative and rational voice in energy matters by offering technical expertise to regulators and policymakers
• To develop and promote codes and standards and related products and services to support energy technology innovation and commercialization
• To support the expansion and development of a more effective energy workforce
• To increase public awareness and knowledge of the energy sector

In implementing the Energy Grand Challenge Roadmap, ASME will build on and leverage its vast energy capabilities to make increased contributions to the energy sector.  According to the report, opportunities exist for ASME to develop an energy-related Web portal, strengthen alliances with other societies and international organizations, increase its profile in renewable and emerging technologies, build on its existing nuclear capabilities, and develop new energy standards where needed.

In a letter which opens the document, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, commended ASME for its initiative and leadership in exploring today's energy challenges so as to fulfill the nation’s energy goals. "It is critical that engineers, who will likely be entrusted with the development of many of these systems that we will rely upon to power our homes and our places of work, be afforded a role in the development of an energy policy."

Forging a link between ASME’s expertise and the needs of the global energy sector, the roadmap says that ASME will implement its strategies by internally aligning its energy capabilities and resources and addressing issues systematically and holistically along the energy value chain.

As ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real-world challenges, the Society will continue to serve as an impartial, authoritative, and rational voice in energy matters by offering technical expertise to regulators and policy makers.  In addition, ASME is committed to supporting the expansion and development of a more effective energy workforce. 

According to ASME President Amos E. Holt, Ph.D., ASME can encourage a culture of innovation needed “to produce the kind of breakthrough thinking that delivers to the world clean, accessible, and affordable energy, while meeting increased demands for power generation and efficiency.  The challenges are great, but so are the opportunities and rewards.”

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

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ASME Contact:
John Varrasi, ASME
varrasij@asme.org or 212.591.8158

Media Contact:
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