The Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University is poised to become a national leader in the field of alternative energy following a recently announced partnership with several area colleges.

Chris Gabriel, former vice provost of the university's strategic planning committee, is now the president of the University Energy Partnership (UEP) based in Pittsburgh. This organization is a collaboration between the science departments at Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia University.

The purposes of the UEP and the Scott Institute are to bring a broad-ranging group of experts together for the purpose of evolving the region in a number of fields ranging from public policy on environmental friendliness to an increase in conservative water usage.

"This is going to be a hugely important piece of what we do in the region," Gabriel told Keystone Edge in an October 19 feature on the program. She cited the expert abilities of the faculty at Carnegie Mellon to work together with professionals from many different areas to accomplish widespread change.

This collaboration is a big step forward for a region that has long been a national leader in energy production through older and new technologies. Coal has been a huge player in terms of job creation throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia for more than a century, though green technology has led the way in new employment growth throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding counties.

Residents and business owners in and around the Steel City should support the emerging green sector in the area by looking towards improving the environmental impact on their property. A home inspection contractor can conduct an energy to help them understand where waste is occurring and can be curbed.