By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing
USF’s ongoing efforts to develop clean-energy solutions and strengthen the environmental engineering workforce are helping build upon the university’s longstanding partnership with Tampa Electric (TECO) – a partnership first established in 1974.
During an event at the USF Research Park, the two institutions announced USF’s Clean Energy Research Center will be named for TECO. The TECO Clean Energy Research Center leads a number of groundbreaking renewable energy projects, such as the creation of solar energy applications for electrical power – all in an effort to increase the use of clean energy and improve the environment.
USF President Rhea Law and Tampa Electric President and CEO Archie Collins
“USF and Tampa Electric are solving significant challenges, improving lives, and building a resilient, healthy environment for future generations,” USF President Rhea Law said. “This is a great example of why I place such a high priority on partnerships: We are better together.”
“Tampa Electric knows the value that the USF family of educators and students brings to the field of power generation,” said Archie Collins, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “The Clean Energy Research Center is a tremendous opportunity for TECO and USF to strengthen our relationship through collaboration on the future of energy generation. There is certainly no shortage of challenges in this field – the synergies between our teams will shape and accelerate our drive for a cleaner future that is both reliable and affordable.”
Center director Yogi Goswami, distinguished university professor of chemical, biological and materials engineering, holds nearly 40 patents and has licensed several inventions, such as hydrogen energy storage and technology to disinfect indoor air. The TECO Clean Energy Research Center also offers a variety of engineering courses, including the design of solar power plants. During the event, Goswami provided a tour to TECO and USF leadership, demonstrating the significance of his team’s research.
“The strong legacy of this partnership, of its commitment to clean-energy solutions and a healthier environment, is among the reasons that USF attracts high-caliber students from around the country and the world,” Goswami said. “Together with Tampa Electric, we are providing them with the tools to become problem-solvers and energy leaders. It also helps us attract world-class faculty, because that support creates greater opportunities to find solutions to the many environmental issues we are facing here at home, across the nation and globally.”
Over the last 50 years, Tampa Electric has supported many initiatives and projects across USF, benefitting the Muma College of Business, the College of Education, USF Health, Athletics, the College of Engineering and more. Some of TECO and USF’s research collaborations include studies on electric vehicles with the Center for Urban Transportation Research and addressing corrosion and remediation of utility infrastructure with the Department of Integrative Biology.
TECO has also provided students hands-on experience through internships, talent development programming and thought leadership, and has participated in several USF projects.
More than 300 TECO employees are USF alumni, including former CEOs Gordon Gillette and John Ramil, who served on the USF Board of Trustees for more than 20 years.