Energy in the 21st Century–Coming in the Spring of 2025
This course is designed to introduce foundational economics of the energy sector and the emerging technologies and business models that most promising in the longer term. Energy is a necessity to all life-forms and ecosystems. Access to affordable and readily available energy has been a cornerstone of economic growth in all highly developed economies. In emerging economies, securing a reliable energy supply is one of the keys to future economic and social progress, to build a better quality of life. Globally, most of the energy consumed today comes from hydrocarbons—crude oil and natural gas. Transportation—whether by road, boat, air, or train—is almost completely fueled by products derived from crude oil. Fossil fuels remain indispensable for manufacturing the four key pillars of society: cement, steel, plastics, and ammonia.
Even with unprecedented improvements in energy efficiency seen in the last two decades, and projected to continue, global energy demand due to rising incomes and AI usage is expected to grow by nearly 40% by 2050. Meeting growing demand for energy in an environmentally responsible manner is thus a critical challenge facing business leaders in the 21st century.
Students who enroll in “The Business of Energy in the 21st Century” are often interested in careers as business executives, consultants, or entrepreneurs in the energy sector, or as financial experts in energy or infrastructure investment. Some simply have an interest in understanding what can realistically be done to address global emissions while maintaining economic growth.
Speaker Series 2024-2025
Each month the Business of Energy Transition Initiative hosts speakers from the energy industry. The speakers discuss current issues regarding the energy transition and what their career path in the energy industry has been like. The first speaker event for fall is scheduled for Monday, September 9 at 6:30 pm.
Speaker Series 2023-2024
During the previous academic year students learned from industry leaders regarding the energy transition.
- October 2023 Darpan Kapadia, COO of LS Power
- November 2023 Dr. Blake Clayton, Chief Investment Officer at Rondure Global
- February 2024 Maurice Ahyow, Sr. Manager Strategy & Regulatory Affairs and Stephen Collins, Sr. Manager Strategic Planning at Southern California Edison
- March 2024 Justin Treitz, Senior Manager Carbon Solutions, California Resources Corporation, Carbon Terra Vault LLC
- March 2024 Chris Jablonski, Vice President of Chevron’s Downstream Technology & Services (not pictured)
- April 2024 Collaborative event with the Arkley Institute for Risk Management Panelists included Bhupesh Arora, former Chief Information Officer & Vice President of Information Technology at Magellan Midstream Partners; Marco Elizarraras, Chief Information Security Officer at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Laura Gichau, Cybersecurity Manager at Ernst & Young; and Kevin Grant, Director of Cybersecurity at Southern California Edison.
Graduate Students can join Marshall Energy and Sustainability Club by visiting the website and filling out the Membership Information Form
Undergraduate Students can join the Marshall Energy Business Club by emailing energy@marshall.usc.edu
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