For CEA President David Holt, returning to his old stomping grounds is more than a personal full circle moment – but a reminder of how far the energy conversation has come.
Last week, Holt attended the University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Week, where leaders in academia, industry, and government gathered to engage with students on critical energy topics. Once a student in those same classrooms, Holt now returned as a leader helping shape the energy conversation for the next generation.
Holt spoke at a panel on The Critical Role of Energy Advocacy in Policymaking in Texas alongside Matthew Bom, Executive Director at Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance, and moderated by Tiffany Wu, Energy Markets and Regulatory Consultant at McAdams Energy Group.
The discussion centered around why advocating for affordable and reliable energy is so important right now and how young energy leaders can continue pushing us in the right direction for energy policy. Demand for energy is rising fast, so these conversations are essential for keeping energy advocacy realistic, balanced, and consumer-focused.
Because soon, these students will be the ones shaping future policies.
This moment also served as a reminder of why Holt does what he does – to show that issues often viewed as distant from everyday life are, in reality, actually quite personal. Energy policy is not something only discussed in conferences or classrooms – it shows up in everything from gas prices, household bills, to the food on your table.
That is why these conversations matter. To bridge the gap between policy and people, helping the next generation understand that good energy policy has a real-world impact.
While this weekend was a moment of reflection for Holt, it was also a time to help guide our future energy advocates toward thoughtful, productive conversation that will help shape what’s next.