Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels that power the world economy. They sustain global production and support nearly everything we touch produce or need from energy production to the crops we grow.

Nothing serves as a clearer reminder of that than the ubiquitous gas station — all 168,000 of them found across the U.S.

But the TEDxAtlanta May 16, 2024 Salon considers “What Happens to Gas Stations When the World Goes Electric?” [REGISTER HERE] Part of TEDxAtlanta’s focus on issues connected to sustainability, the Salon is being held at Georgia Tech’s Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design — the first building in Georgia and one of only 28 in the world to be granted Living Building Challenge certification.

The Salon features the 2023 TED Talk exploring that question as presented by Emily Grubert, associate professor of sustainable energy policy at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs.

Formerly a professor at Georgia Tech, Grubert’s talk sets a framework for what a world running fully electric could look like and what that could mean for cars, tools, and jobs that rely on fossil fuels.

That presentation will be followed by small group meetings led by subject matter experts who will look to help attendees develop an appreciation for the complexities that are encapsulated in the societal transition from infrastructure built on fossil fuels to clean energy.

“Sustainability is driving fast-paced changes in how we view the use of fossil fuels, our adoption of alternatives, and moving to a new way overall regarding the kinds of energy we use to keep our economies and way of life as we know it strong,” said Jacqui Chew, TEDxAtlanta Licensee. “Hosting this Salon in the Kendeda Building, which is fully sustainable not only in its use of energy, but also design, will give attendees a tangible understanding of the possibilities as they ponder the central question we are posing.”

This Salon is one of several planned for the year that will encourage attendees to explore new ideas and consider new approaches in the understanding of various subjects such as sustainability.

They are all part of a broader focus for TEDxAtlanta leading up to the 2024 theme of the mainstage event in September: The Future We Will Create.

The Salon venue is being provided by the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a public-private organization focused on advancing technology and innovation in an equitable manner across the state of Georgia.