Employee News
Wake Tech Alternative Fuels Expert to Share World Stage
RALEIGH, N.C. (September 19, 2011) - Wake Tech automotive instructor Rich Cregar will travel to China next month to share his expertise in sustainable transportation technologies with world leaders. Cregar will make a presentation on biofuels at the first annual Low Carbon Earth Summit, taking place October 19-26 at the World Exposition Center in Dalian, China.
The theme of the summit is "Leading the Green Economy, Returning to Harmony with Nature." Scientists, environmentalists, economists, government officials and others interested in promoting a low carbon economy will gather to exchange ideas and address climate change issues from both public and private sectors. Cregar's presentation, "Biofuels and the Modern, High Pressure Diesel Engine with After-Treatment," will focus on the use of biodiesel fuels in vehicles made in 2006 or later. "My contribution to this conference helps to keep Wake Tech at the forefront of sustainable technologies," Cregar says, "and that helps us meet our goal of maximizing educational benefits and career opportunities for our students in applied technology programs."
Cregar currently serves as chair of Triangle Clean Cities Coalition and is a co-director in the statewide Code Green Curriculum Improvement Project launched last year by the North Carolina Community College System. He has taught at Wake Tech since 2006 and published numerous articles on renewable fuels, advanced drive systems, and workforce development for "green" transportation. He frequently presents workshops on the production of biodiesel, clean diesel technology, vehicle emissions systems, hybrid electric drive systems, and electric vehicles. Cregar was named a GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellow for the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) in 2009.
Before coming to Wake Tech, Cregar served as an instructor and research associate at the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium at West Virginia University. He is an ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician with endorsements in advanced engine performance, alternative fuels and light duty diesels. He is a graduate of the Diesel Engine Engineering Academy and the Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Engineering Academy of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
