The theme for the 2019 Lignite Energy Council’s Annual Meeting is “Blueprint for the Future” and who better to speak about the future of the lignite industry than two people who work with advanced coal technology programs. Brian Davey is the chief executive officer of Brown Coal Innovation Australia. Janet Gellici is the chief executive officer of the National Coal Council.
Davey has a background in the coal and power sector with more than 30 years of experience in the operations, financial, marketing and technology sectors of the industry. His career includes managing advanced coal technology programs both as an administrator in government service and as a consultant. Brown Coal Innovation Australia has many similarities to the Lignite Energy Council. Currently both associations have many similar goals including advanced generation technology development and studies to increase the beneficial attributes of coal in areas besides electric generation.
Mike Holmes, vice president of research and development for the Lignite Energy Council, spoke at a Brown Coal symposium in 2018 regarding R&D studies taking place in the United States to increase the value and production of lignite. Davey will give a similar presentation focusing on Australian studies and R&D advances regarding brown coal. Australia is the only place in the world with larger known reserves of lignite than North Dakota.
“Our two organizations have a commitment to work together in collaboration on R&D projects that will benefit lignite producers in North Dakota and Australia,” Holmes said.
Gellici is making a return trip to the Lignite Energy Council’s annual meeting. She spoke as part of a National Coal Council Panel at the 2015 Annual Meeting. The National Coal Council is an advisory committee to the U.S. Secretary of Energy, providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary on general policy matters relating to the coal industry.
Her presentation will be about securing coal’s future and will include recommendations in support of coal’s vital role in the U.S. generation fleet. She will give an overview of recommendations from the National Coal Council to Energy Secretary Rick Perry on optimizing the existing coal fleet and advancing new markets for coal.
You can register online at https://lignite.com/event/2019-annual-meeting/