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EarthTalks: Lightsource bp CEO Kevin Smith to discuss future of solar

Kevin Smith, CEO for the Americas at Lightsource bp, will discuss the solar partnership with Penn State and the future of solar power at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22. Credit: Bernd Haupt / PixabayAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Solar power is a frontrunner in the shift to a greener electricity generation, and Penn State’s 25-year partnership with Lightsource bp will provide the University with 25% of its purchased statewide electricity needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Kevin Smith, CEO for the Americas at Lightsource bp, will discuss the solar partnership and the future of solar power at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22. The talk, which is free and open to the public, will be broadcast via Zoom.

Smith has more than 30 years of experience in the overall energy industry, with the last 15 years focused on solar and wind. He has developed and built energy projects in more than a dozen countries across five continents, while securing long-term electricity sales contracts exceeding $55 billion. Smith is a board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), working to advance forward-thinking policies that drive continued and equitable job growth for American workers, and help our country thrive as we transition to an electric grid that’s powered with clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a master of business administration in finance from the University of Chicago.

Smith’s talk is part of the spring 2021 EarthTalks series, “Energy and climate policy: How to avoid a global hothouse.” The series focuses on policies and technology that could help slow down global warming and addresses topics such as carbon taxes, renewable energy subsidies and the feasibility of carbon sequestration. For more information about the spring 2021 series, visit the EarthTalks website.

Last Updated February 16, 2021