For the 18th year, NETL will present the Energy and Power Generation Training Course for the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI) today through Friday to help educate future U.S. diplomats about critical national and international energy issues.

The course is being presented in Washington, D.C., and at NETL’s Pittsburgh, Pa. and Morgantown, W.Va. sites and features visits to key energy production facilities and a designated energy efficient building in Pittsburgh.

FSI sets American diplomats up for success so they can ensure the success of American diplomacy around the world. As the U.S. government’s premier foreign affairs training provider, FSI promotes substantive, regional, and linguistic expertise, leadership finesse, personal resilience and innovative problem-solving.

According to the Department of State, effective diplomacy is more essential than ever to meet current challenges and future opportunities. FSI employs cutting-edge educational technology, the latest advancements in cognitive research, and the work of innovative thought leaders from around the world. FSI challenges professionals to explore new individual strengths, broaden organizational capacities, and strive for better outcomes for the U.S. and the world.

The course is designed to prepare participants to advocate for U.S. energy equipment exports to support U.S. jobs, and to understand how electricity reliability supports international partnerships. The course covers information about the entire power grid, demonstrates diverse types of energy generation, and shows how an electric grid functions. Participants will also analyze the structure of the industry worldwide.

In addition to lectures in Washington and at NETL facilities, the course includes: field trips to a natural gas plant, a coal power plant, a nuclear power plant, a wind farm, a hydro-facility, a coal mine, shale-gas fields, and industrial users of energy such as an aluminum manufacturer.

The course will also provide participants with a visit to an office tower that has been designated a LEED Platinum facility by the Green Buildings Council (USGBC). LEED is a national certification system developed by USGBC to encourage the construction of energy and resource-efficient buildings that are healthy to live in. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Pittsburgh has three LEED buildings: PNC Plaza, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden.

Contact:

• Shelley Martin, DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory, 304-285-0228, contact.publicaffairs@netl.doe.gov