Columbia Energy Association

?? Join us Wednesday, March 26th for an engaging evening of networking and discussions over drinks, hosted by Columbia | SIPA’s Columbia Energy Association! ?? Don't miss the opportunity to connect with fellow energy and climate enthusiasts from Columbia University and the Bay Area. Please RSVP below and email [email protected] with any questions. Date: Wednesday, March 26th Time: 7-9 PM Location: Wreck Room, 1390 California St. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eciXPe8f #ColumbiaEnergy #BayArea #Networking #Energy #HappyHour #Sustainability

??Celebrating 20 Years of Energy Discussions and Innovation: The Columbia University Energy Symposium Commemorative Publication?? We are excited to share our special commemorative publication celebrating two decades of the Columbia University Energy Symposium: NYC’s largest student-led energy conference. Since 2005, the Symposium has brought together over 4,000 students, alumni, policymakers, and industry leaders to navigate and discuss the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition. Inspired by the dynamic and wide-ranging discussions during the Symposium, the publication unites a diverse range of voices – from current students and faculty to our accomplished alumni – who offer unique insights into the evolution of the energy sector. The articles span a broad spectrum of topics including policy, finance, technology, U.S. energy, and international perspectives. Get a glimpse of the featured pieces: ? Policy Spotlight: “A Gender Responsive Approach to the Just Transition” by Shazia Rehman (SIPA ‘26), explores how inclusive strategies at both global and national levels can pave the way for a just energy transition. ? Finance Spotlight: “The Evolution of Structured Finance Solutions in the US Oil & Gas Sector” by Brooks Klimley, Adjunct Professor at Columbia | SIPA, examines the shift from traditional reserve-based lending to innovative asset-backed securitizations in today’s dynamic market. ? International Spotlight: “Strategic Horizons of the Belt and Road: Afghanistan's Critical Minerals” by Ben Bostwick (SIPA ‘25), Clara Janbon (SPS ‘25), and Ibrahim Zubairi (SIPA ‘26), delves into how Afghanistan’s untapped reserves present strategic opportunities amid the soaring global demand for critical minerals. Read more about these spotlights and many more insights from contributions by Michael Gerrard, Tulika Gupta, Sonali D., Murun Jargal, Steven Cohen, Riya Yingran G., and Abi Rafdi Insani in the publication below. A heartfelt thank you goes to all our contributors for sharing your expertise, and a special thanks to Madison Davis, Director of Publication, for her outstanding work in designing and leading this commemorative piece. #ColumbiaEnergySymposium #ColumbiaEnergy #EnergyInnovation #Sustainability #EnergyTransition

??Fueling Future Energy Leaders: A Recap of?the Lunch Roundtables at the 20th Annual Columbia Energy Symposium?? Last Friday, during the 20th Annual Columbia University Energy Symposium, students were given the opportunity to take part in lunch roundtables with leading energy professionals. These intimate sessions allowed students to engage directly with prospective employers and dive deeper into the thought-provoking discussions sparked by our morning panels and keynote sessions. At the roundtables, students connected with representatives from top companies—Solar Landscape, Igneo Infrastructure Partners & Soltage LLC, and GE Vernova—who not only shared their insights on emerging trends and the future of energy but also inspired many to pursue careers in the energy sector. A special thank you to these companies for leading the conversation and igniting passion among future energy leaders. We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, whose gracious support made this symposium possible, including the Center on Global Energy Policy, Rabobank, Con Edison, and everyone who hosted the roundtables. It was a fantastic opportunity for both students and professionals to learn, network, and inspire each other. #ColumbiaEnergySymposium #EnergyCareers #CleanEnergy #Networking #FutureOfEnergy

Last week marked the 20th edition of the Columbia University Energy Symposium, a milestone event for Columbia Energy Association that brought together leaders, faculty and student voices in energy. I am grateful for the opportunity to moderate the panel on "Policy as a Catalyst for the Deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies" alongside an incredible lineup of panelists, Zachary Hanson, John DiMarco, CFA, Meave Tooher and Shaun Keegan. In our discussion, we explored how policy stability drives clean energy investment, the risks and opportunities in emerging technologies, and the critical role of regulatory certainty. My key takeaways from the panel are that bold policies, investor confidence, and regulatory efficiency are essential to accelerating the energy transition. In uncertain times, success comes down to conviction, quantifying the risks, and leveraging both state and federal initiatives. I couldn't be prouder of what the CEA organizing team has accomplished, led by Beniamin Strzelecki, Xueru Zhao and Muriel Jacques. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who made this event a success, and to the CEA team for their unwavering presence and support! ?? A special thank you to Mekala Krishnan for making the trip to NYC and captivating the audience with a sharp, insightful, and engaging presence.?I would also like to thank CBS Energy & Infrastructure Club for co-organizing this event, Heather Hartel for the great programming, as well as Columbia | SIPA for their continual support. Many more exciting initiatives and events are on the way, follow CEA to stay informed and get involved! ?

Last Friday, we successfully concluded the 20th Columbia Energy Symposium, co-hosted by Columbia Energy Association and CBS Energy & Infrastructure Club! With a strong focus on the energy transition, we welcomed four insightful panels, two keynote speakers, and a fireside chat, drawing over 270 attendees, including students from Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, and young professionals from across the industry. ?? Among the 24 incredible speakers, I feel especially honored to invite Mayor Shawyn Howard to our event through the support of Love&Future and introduce her on stage. Mayor Shawyn Howard is a woman I have admired since I first met her at a UN event. I love how she fights for environmental justice with a practical, community-centered approach, tackling real challenges at the local level, and her passion for inspiring young people to pursue impact-driven careers. ?? As the Logistics Director, this was my first time organizing an event of this scale outside my home country, China. Every step was a new challenge, but after four months of hard work, I am incredibly proud to have made it happen with an amazing organizing team. Along the way, I also learned so much from my teammates—Beniamin Strzelecki (Executive Director), Yifei Wang, Muriel J., Madison Davis, Tulika Gupta, Heather Hartel, So Ukawa, CPA, and Elisa Gan—whose dedication, leadership, and teamwork truly inspired me. I couldn't have asked for a better group to work with! We are also deeply grateful for all the support we received from our friends and mentors at Columbia | SIPA! The 20th Symposium is a milestone, but also the beginning of new explorations. Let's stay tuned for more exciting events ahead! ??? #ColumbiaEnergySymposium #EnergyTransition #Sustainability #ColumbiaSIPA #CleanEnergy

??From Local Action to Global Investment: Highlights from the Second Half of the 20th Annual Columbia Energy Symposium?? Last Friday afternoon at the 20th Annual Columbia Energy Symposium was an energizing exploration into the financial and policy dimensions of our energy future. The session opened with an impactful keynote by Shawyn Howard, 30th Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon, who underscored the critical role local governments play in climate action. She stressed that a data-driven narrative is essential for securing funding and urged us to engage directly with communities, through schools, local organizations, and religious spaces, to foster sustainable solutions. In Panel Discussion 3, "Financing the Energy Transition in Emerging and Developing Markets," moderated by Muriel Jacques, Diego Mesa, Riad Meddeb, Luisa Palacios, and Suman Sureshbabu examined the challenges of high capital costs and policy barriers in developing markets. Their discussion charted a course toward unlocking the immense renewable potential in emerging markets through innovative financing approaches, risk-sharing mechanisms, and scalable investment models. Panel Discussion 4, "Unlocking Energy Transition Through Private Capital," moderated by Heather Hartel, brought together Neil Suslak, Mekala Krishnan, Christopher Poirier, and Daniel Egan to explore how private capital can drive innovation and development of clean energy systems—reinforcing the notion that energy underpins every economic process. The afternoon wrapped up with a stand-up live show by Rollie Williams and Matt Nelsen of Climate Town, who mixed humor with insight to tackle misinformation on wind farms and fossil fuels, ending the day on a thoughtful and uplifting note. A heartfelt thank you to all our speakers, panelists, moderators, and the engaged audience for making the symposium's second half as inspiring and impactful as it was dynamic! Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the Symposium here and on our Instagram (https://lnkd.in/eSwMxnG5). #ColumbiaEnergy #EnergySymposium #EnergyTransition #EnergyInnovation #RenewableEnergy #ClimateFinance #Sustainability #ColumbiaUniversity

Last week, GEAPPs Managing Director of Jobs and Livelihoods, Suman Sureshbabu joined the Columbia University Energy Symposium to discuss how #global cooperation is key to financing the energy transition in emerging economies. ???? ??? We want to hear from you! In the comments, what would it take to increase #energy consumption across emerging economies so that #renewable energy projects are #sustainable and drive #economic development? Let us know! Amongst the other panelist sat Diego Mesa (with International Monetary Fund), Luisa Palacios (with Center on Global Energy Policy), and Riad Meddeb (UNDP), moderated by Muriel J. (a Columbia University student).

??Innovative Energy Conversations: Insights from the First Half of the 20th Annual Columbia University Energy Symposium?? Thank you for joining us at the 20th Annual Energy Symposium hosted at Columbia University- a day filled with meaningful conversations and innovative ideas about the current state and future of energy. The day kicked off with an impactful keynote from Carrie Woerner, who highlighted the critical role of renewable energy and policy. Immediately following, the fireside chat featuring Dave Turk and Gernot Wagner delved into the current energy landscape amid the new administration, discussing both the challenges and the promising prospects for our energy future. In Panel Discussion 1 moderated by Beniamin Strzelecki – Global Landscape of the Energy Transition, Shari Friedman, Roger Martella, and Annisa Paramita explored what has been described as an "electric supercycle." They stressed that global partnerships and public–private collaboration are essential to balance energy transition with security, while also emphasizing the incredible potential for innovation in an ever-evolving global landscape. Panel Discussion 2 moderated by Anna Schneider – Policy as Catalyst for Renewable Energy Technologies Deployment – brought together Meave Tooher, Zachary Hanson, Shaun Keegan, and John DiMarco, CFA. The panel examined how policy uncertainty can drive up the premium on capital, posing challenges for renewable projects, and underscored the critical need for clear, consistent policies to support renewable energy growth over the long term. A special thank you goes out to the students and attendees whose thoughtful questions and engaging discussions enriched the panel discussions and made the Symposium even more dynamic. Once again, a big thank you to all our brilliant speakers, enthusiastic participants, and the team behind the scenes, from Columbia | SIPA and Columbia Business School, for making the 20th Annual Energy Symposium an event full of knowledge and inspiration in the realm of energy and its future! Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the Symposium on here and on our Instagram (https://lnkd.in/eSwMxnG5). #ColumbiaEnergy #EnergySymposium #EnergyTransition #EnergyInnovation #RenewableEnergy #ClimateFinance #Sustainability #ColumbiaUniversity