Summer Energy Institute Keynote Speaker to Share Experience as a Participant at 2007 United Nations Climate Negotiations

July 14, 2008

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Energy Smart Students Program, a K-12 energy education program, has announced the keynote speaker for their 5th Annual Summer Energy Institute this July. Dominic Frongillo, of Caroline, New York, participated in the December 2007 United Nations Climate Negotiations, in Bali, as one of 200 world youth delegates. Mr. Frongillo will share his experiences at this historic event. Frongillo will speak on Monday, July 21, 2008 at Lecture Center 19 on the campus of the University at Albany. The talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Frongillo, who leads “Energy Independent Caroline,” a citizen committee dedicated to local energy independence, will share his experience working in the town of Caroline as he helped the residents declare energy independence. Elected at age 22, he is the youngest elected Councilman in the Town of Caroline, New York. Mr. Frongillo will also describe other work he is doing in promoting sustainability and raising awareness of the climate change problem to citizens in upstate New York. A lifelong citizen of Caroline, and a graduate of Cornell University, he is 25 years old and serves as the Deputy Town Supervisor of Caroline and the chairperson of the 11-municipality Recreation Partnership of Tompkins County. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County.

Prior to his election to office in the Town of Caroline, he was a Cornell Urban Scholar, and worked for the Association of Communities Organized for Reform Now (ACORN) in Brooklyn, NY, the Tompkins County Planning Department in Ithaca, NY, and on a World Bank project for the Program of International Nutrition at Cornell.

As our nation is seeing a resurgence of youth civic action, inspired by the potential to solve climate change and build a sustainable future, come to Lecture Center 19 and hear this dynamic young leader who is making waves in his town in upstate New York.

Contact

Colleen Ryan, NYSERDA
518-862-1090 x3359