THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MECHANICS.

THANK YOU.

>> CONNECTING MARYLANDERS.

TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE."

COMING UP TONIGHT, A FILM FESTIVAL WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM FROM FEMALE FILMMAKERS.

AND OUR HBCU WEEK FOCUS TURNS TO THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ALMA MATER.

BUT WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT A MASSIVE WIND FARM TO BE BUILT IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN OFF THE MARYLAND COAST.

CHARLES ROBINSON LOOKS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND CONCERNS.

>> Charles: THE OCEAN BREEZES OFF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN ARE INVITING TOURISTS.

THOSE BREEZES ARE ALSO A REASON WHY U.S. WIND IS PLANNING TO BUILD A SERIES WINDMILLS TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY OFF THE COAST OF OCEAN CITY.

>> OFFSHORE WIND IS A SOURCE OF ABUNDANT, CLEAN ENERGY.

IT IS ONE OF THE BEST CHANCES WE HAVE TO MITIGATE THE GREATEST THREATS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, WIND ENERGY AND THE STATE'S GOAL TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY BUT WE HAVE KIND OF BEEN LEFT OUT OF EQUATION AS FAR AS HOW WILL IT AFFECT OCEAN CITY.

>> Charles: THE ORIGINAL SITE KNOWN AS MAR WIN ENCOMPASSES SOCOM 80,000 ACRES AND WAS AWARDED IN 2017.

THE NEW SITE MOMENTUM WIND, IS ADJACENT TO THE ORIGINAL SITE AND WAS AWARDED IN 2021 AND WILL INCREASE THE SIZE TO 90,000 ACRES.

>> THE PRESIDENT HAS A GOAL OF REDUCING OR DEPLOYING, EXCUSE ME, 30,000 MEGAWATTS OF OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY BY 2030 AND IS VERY AMBITIOUS.

>> Charles: THERE ARE SEVEN OFFSHORE SITES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE CLOSEST TO US IS OFF THE COAST OF VIRGINIA BEACH.

IN MARYLAND, THEY'RE COLLECTING DATA.

THE FIRST TURBINES ARE SCHEDULED TO GO UP IN 2025.

U.S. WIND HAS MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO SELL THE BENEFITS TO THE STATE AND THOSE ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

IN ADDITION, THE WIND TURBINES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN THEY ARE BUILDING UNDERWATER RIGGING TO HOLD THE TOWERS AND THE TURBINE BLADES IN BALTIMORE.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT U.S. WIND'S PROJECTS, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF SUCH DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT CREATING REALLY WELL-PAYING, FAMILY-SUSTAINING JOBS.

>> Charles: SO U.S. WIND WE'RE TOLD IS CONTRACTED TO BUILD WINDMILLS OFF THE COAST OF OCEAN CITY, IS REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE YOU CANNOT SEE THE TURBINES FROM THE 87th STREET DUNES.

THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE WIND FARM AT LEAST 15 MILES OFF THE COAST.

THE NATURAL CURVATURE OF THE EARTH AND THE OCEAN LAYER MIST SHOULD PROVIDE COVER DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY, ACCORDING TO THE BUILDER.

>> SUNRISE WILL NEVER LOOK SAME, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.

IN VIRGINIA BEACH AND OFF THE CAROLINA BEACHES THEY'RE 26 TO 30 MILES OFFSHORE, AND THEY PROTECTED THEIR VIEW SHED.

WE JUST HAD ASKED HA THEY DO THE SAME THING, NOT JUST FOR THE MARYLAND BEACHES BUT WE'RE HEARING SAME THING FROM OUR OTHER RESORTS, BEACH RESORTS IN DELAWARE.

>> Charles: IF EXISTING WIND FARMS ARE PROOF OF PERFORMANCE, THEY DON'T JUST CREATE ELECTRICITY.

THEY CREATE ARE OFFICIAL REEFS WHICH BECOME A GREED BREEDING GROUND FOR MOLLUSKS AND FISH, ADDING A BENEFIT FOR WATERMEN.

IN OCEAN CITY, I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: CHARLES, THANK YOU.

JOINING US NOW DR. ERIK WACHSMAN, THE DIRECTOR OF MARYLAND ENERGY INNOVATION INSTITUTE.

SIR WHUB FOR JOINING US.

TELL US, WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING HAPPENING IN YOUR LABS RIGHT NOW?

>> Eric Wachsman: IT'S HARD TO SAY JUST ONE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONE IS IN THE AREA OF ENERGY STORAGE.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN BATTERIES, IN LAR, THE NEXT GENERATION BATTERIES, SOLID STATE BATTERIES AND AN ENSEMBLE, SOMETHING WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, THE SAFETY IN SOME OF THE BAT LIST RIS BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

THEY'RE ABLE TO GO FARTHER AND LAST LONGER THAN THE CONVENTIONAL BATTERIES.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF BIGGEST AREAS OF EXCITEMENT I WOULD SAY RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: HOW PROMISING IS IT?

HOW BIG A LEAP WILL IT BE?

>> Eric Wachsman: THESE TYPES OF OF BATTERIES CAN THEORETICALLY DOUBLE THE ENERGY DENSITY OR POWER DENSITY OF CONVENTIONAL BATTERIES.

AND THE THEY ARE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS THE FACT THAT THESE ARE SPINOFF COMPANIES THAT ARE MANUFACTURING THESE IN MARYLAND SO IT'S NOT JUST LIKE WE'RE BUYING TECHNOLOGY FROM CHINA BUT IN FACT THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IN ENERGY.

>> Jeff: I THINK ABOUT BATTERIES, YOU KNOW, BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD.

IT WAS THE EVER REDDY THINGS THAT WOULD OCCASIONALLY LEAK, AND THEN IT WAS NIPADS AND NOW EVERYTHING'S GOT LITHIUM.

IS THIS LITH YUM-BASED?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> Eric Wachsman: THE CURRENT JERKS IS LITHIUM BATTERIES BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON SODIUM BATTERIES FOR SCALE STORAGES.

THE REASON WE WANT LITHIUM IS IT'S A LIGHTER ELEMEN.

IF YOU REMEMBER THE PERIODIC TABLE AND THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES AT THE TOP THAT WERE LIGHT AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY ONES BLOW THAT WERE HEAVIER, SO LITHIUM IS A MUCH LIGHTER ELEMENT AND THAT'S WHY IT'S USE PRIMARILY FOR OUR LAPTOPS AND CELL PHONES BUTTAL FOR THE BATTERIES.

IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A BRIDGE SCALE STORAGE YOU WANT TO HAVE A TURBINE ORE SOLAR PANEL YOU'RE NOT MOVING.

IT'S SITING ON THE GROUND SO HOW MUCH IT WILL WEIGHS DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

IN THAT CASE THE SODIUM BATTERY IS POTENTIALLY MUCH BETTER AND SODIUM IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT.

IT COMES FROM BASICALLY SEAWATER SO IT'S A MUCH LOWER COST POTENTIAL BATTERY THAN THE LITHIUM BATTERY.

>> Jeff: LITHIUM IS IN SHORT SUPPLY THESE DAYS, RIGHT?

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE SALTON SEA FOR A U.S.

SOURCE?

>> Eric Wachsman: LITHIUM, THERE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF IT.

IT'S A MATTER OF HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO GET IT.

SO WE'RE USED TO HARVESTING MINERALS FROM THE PLACESSER WHEN THEY HAVE VERY HIGH CONCENTRATIONS, AND THOSE PLACES WITH HIGH CONS TRAINSZ, WHERE THE COST OF RECOVERING IT IS LESS, ARE LESS AND LESS AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY GROWING DEMAND FOR LITHIUM.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE RUFNG OUT OF IT BUT THAT THE COST OF IT WILL GO UP BECAUSE IF ALL OF THE LOW COST PLACES ARE TAKEN THEN YOU START TO HAVE TO GO TO THE HIGHER COST ONES.

>> Jeff: LET'S PUT ALL THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE HAVE JUST SEEN IN OUR REPORT FROM OCEAN CITY ON THE LARGE SCALE WIND TURBINE FARM THAT IS GOING TO GO IN THERE.

THEN JUST IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSING TO BAN GAS-POWERED VEHICLES, NEW VEHICLES AFTER 2035, AND WE HAVE FROM WASHINGTON THE NEW CLIMATE LAW AND INCENTIVES TO BASICALLY ELECTRIFY HOMES, NO GAS FURNACES, EVERYTHING'S ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS.

IT COMPLETELY CHANGES THE WAY ENERGY IS GOING TO NEED TO MOVE AROUND, RIGHT?

>> Eric Wachsman: IT DOES.

BUT THE FACT IS WE HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE HAVE WIND.

WE HAVE SOLAR.

WE HAVE OTHER ONES.

THE ISSUE HAS BEEN THEIR INTERMITTENCY.

THE WIND IS GOING TO BLOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO BLOW AND THE SUN IS GOING TO SHINE WHEN IT'S GOING TO SHINE, AND YOU WANT TO TURN ON THAT LIGHT WHEN YOU WANT TO TURN ON THAT LIGHT, TYPICALLY AND WHEN IT'S DARK AND THAT'S THE ISSUE.

THE SO STORAGE HAS BEEN THE MAJOR ISSUE.

IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO STORE THAT ENERGY AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE WHEN YOU WANT TO USE IT, THEN ALL OF THESE RENEWABLE RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE.

>> Jeff: IS THERE ENOUGH?

I JUST READ A STORY ABOUT AUSTRALIA POTENTIALLY BEING AN EXPORTER OF GREEN ENERGY.

THEY JUST HAVE SO MUCH LAND WHERE SOLAR CELLS CAN GO.

IT WOULD BE A LONG CABLE RUN TO WHEREVER THE END USER IS BUT I GUESS THAT GETS MOO INTO THE GREEN HYDROGEN STORY.

MY QUESTION IS WHEN WE LOOK AT MARYLAND AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE MID-ATLANTIC, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH WIND?

IS THERE ENOUGH SUNSHINE TO GET AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS?

>> Eric Wachsman: WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THE RESOURCES.

IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO JUST THE COST.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE COST OF WIND AND SOLAR ARE ACTUALLY LESS THAN MOST OF THE CONVENTIONAL FIELDS.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE STORAGE, AND AS THE PRICE OF STORAGE COMINGS DOWN, THEN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM COST WILL COME DOWN AND IT STARTS BECOMING MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF WIND ENERGY, THERE'S PLENTY OF SUNSHINE.

MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE THAT THE FIGURE IS ENOUGH SUN, RADIATION THE ON EARTH WOULD PROVIDE ALL OF THE ENERGILY SOURCES RESOURCES WE NEED FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR FOR ONE DAY OF SOLAR RADIANCE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF IT THERE.

IT'S JUST A MATTER CAPTURING IT 1K3 DOING AT A AT A COST THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO EVERYBODY.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES FOR STORING ENERGY LIKE THAT?

IS GREEN HYDROGEN ONE OF NEM?

-- OF THEM?

THE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY COULD BE ONE.

WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?

>> Eric Wachsman: HYDROGEN IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN CONVERT THE SUN OR WIND ENERGY INTO OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY IN TERMS OF CHEMICALS, SO HYDROGEN IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY ONES, AND SO WE DO WHAT'S CALLED E ELECTROLYSIS.

SO THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD USE HYDROGEN WOULD BE IN A FUEL ZONE, THE CHEMICAL ENERGY AND CONVERT NIGHT ELECTRICITY, BUT YOU CAN RUN THOSE CELLS IN REVERSE IN WHAT'S CALLED E ELECTRIC PATROL CYST CELLS.

NOW YOU TAKE THE ELECTRICITY THAT'S COMING FROM SUN OR WIND OR IT COULD BE FROM A NUCLEAR POWER PLOORNT WHATEVER OTHER SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY THAT YOU HAVE AND IT CONVERTS TO THEN WATER AFTER HYDROGEN.

6.

>> Jeff: WHAT YOU'RE LONGER ARE ARE KNOWN AS SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS, SPHART:30 THAT IS RIGHT?

>> Eric Wachsman: I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S SOLID STATE FUEL CELLS OR SOLID STATE BATTERIES.

THE SOLID STATE BATTERIES IS THE NEXT GENERATION ENERGY STORAGE.

THE SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS ARE WHAT YOU CAN USE, WHETHER IT'S HYDROGEN OR EVEN NATURAL GAS.

THOSE TYPES OF FUEL CELLS WILL RUN ON EITHER FUEL.

THEY'RE WHAT'S CALLED FUEL FLEXIBLE.

BUT THEY CAN ALSO RUN IN REVERSE ASEE ELECTROLYSIS CELLS TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN.

>> WHAT DO YOU THIK THE TIME FRAME MIGHT BE TO GET FROM HERE TO WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS US TO BE?

>> Eric Wachsman: OH, THAT IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION.

THERE'S WHAT'S TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE.

THERE'S WHAT'S ECONOMIC.

AND THERE'S WHAT'S APPLICABLE POLITICALLY AND SOCIAL ACCEPTABLE AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TIME FRAMES.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE.

WE COULD START DOING IT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AWAY BUT IT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

AND IF IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE, THE SOCIAL WILL TO ACCEPT A MORE EXPENSIVE SOURCE OF ENERGY IS NOT THERE.

AS TIME GOES ON, THIS TECHNOLOGY IS BECOMING LESS AND LESS EXPENSIVE.

ONE OF THE MAJOR ASPECTS THERE IS JUST THE VOLUME OF MANUFACTURING, RIGHT, SO YOU SO YOU THINK OF THE ALL THE ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS THAT YOU HAVE HAD OVER YOUR LIFETIME, FROM CELL PHONES TO WHATEVER ELSE THE CASE MAY BE, THEY START OFF REALM EXPENSIVE AS MANUFACTURING VOLUME WENT UP, THE COST DROPPED.

THAT'S WHAT'S MADE SOLAR NOW MORE MUCH MORE NEIGHBORLY USE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURING VOLUME HAS GOIN, AND THAT'S DOING THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW WITH BAT PARTNERSHIPS THE MANUFACTURING VOLUME IS GOING UP AND SO THE COST IS COMING DOWN.

SO YOU HAVE THIS CONTINUOUS DROP IN COST WITH MANUFACTURING VOLUME.

THOSE CURVES EXTEND FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

WHEN THE COST IS NO MORE THAN THE COST OF WHATEVER OUR CONVENTIONAL SOURCE OF ENERGY IS IS WHEN IT'S REALLY GOING TO TAKE OFF.

>> Jeff: THE APPLICABLE WILL -- THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO THIS SEEMS TO BE THERE AT THE MOMENT, MAYBE NOT GLOBALLY.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT BIG STEPS ON THE HORIZON?

>> Eric Wachsman: I THINK ACTUALLY GLOBALLY THE WILL IS THERE IN MANY OF THE COUNTRIES, IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES.

EUROPE RIGHT NOW IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THE ISSUE WITH RUSSIA AND IS OIL PIPELINE IS MAKING MAJOR TRANSITIONS INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THEY REALIZED THEY CANNOT BE DEPENDENT ON RUSSIA FOR A SOURCE OF NATURAL GAS, AND SO YOU ARE SEEING MAJOR CHANGES GOING ON OVER THERE.

SAME THING IN PARTS OF ASIA, IN JAPAN, KOREA.

CHINA, WHICH HAS BEEN GROWING THEIR ECONOMY AND PRODUCING A LOT OF C ROVMENT 2 EMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE RAMPING UP THEIR INDUSTRY TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, IS ALSO NOW FEELING THE BRUNT OF IT.

THEY'RE HAVING DROUGHTS.

THEY'RE HAVING AIR POLLUTION.

THEY'RE HAVING OTHER CONCERNS.

ANDY IS THEY'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST EMPLOYERS RIGHT NOW OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS ACTUALLY IN CHINA.

SO IT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS, DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES WHICH WANT TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, POOH-POOH THIS WHOLE THING, BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY A TREND THAT IS TAKING PLACE AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

IT IS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION, AND I THINK WE'RE BETTER OFF TRYING TO ACCELERATE THAT SOLUTION RATHER THAN PUSHING IT BACK.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO DR. WACHSMAN.

NOW WITH THIS WEEK'S "NEWSMAKER," HERE'S NANCY YAMADA.

>> Nancy: THIS YEAR MARKS THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHESAPEAKE FILM FESTIVAL, AND HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT IT AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT THIS YEAR IS AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL FILM MAKER AND VICE PRESIDENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING, SANDY CANNON-BROWN.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS IS THE A TEN-DAY EVENT THAT KICKS OFF ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.

THAT IS RIGHT?

>> Sandy Cannon-Brown: THAT RIGHT AND IT'S SO GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

PI GET SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS, NANCY.

SO WE HAVE A HYBRID FESTIVAL.

WE HAVE THREE DAYS OF THE LIVE FESTIVAL, AND THAT FROM SEPTEMBER 30th, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AND I'D LOVE THE LIVE FESTIVAL WHERE YOU CAN BRING PEOPLE INTO EASTON AND EVERYBODY GETS THAT EXPERIENCE, THE E IMMERSION OF BEAUTIFUL SETTING AND WATCHING THE FILMS.

AND THEN WE CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER WEEK WITH THE VIRTUAL FESTIVAL, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY FREE TO EVERYBODY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, SO THIS GIVES FILMMAKERS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR WORKS TO EVERYBODY P. >> Nancy: I UNDERSTAND PREDOMINANT THEMES THIS YEAR INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO FILMS BY AND ABOUT WOMEN.

>> Sandy Cannon-Brown: I'M VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING SO THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, BUT THIS YEAR WE ARE FEATURING A COUPLE OF FILMS ABOUT IMPACTFUL WOMEN, AND IT WASN'T BY CHOICE, ACTUALLY, THAT IT TURNS OUT WE HAVE A PREDOMINANCE OF FILMS BY WOMEN THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S VERY EXCITING TOO.

>> Nancy: TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR FILM.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A SHORT ENVIRONMENTAL SHORT FILM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I'M ASSUMING IT MEANS IT'S A SHORTER DOCUMENT LIERY, BUT IT'S CALLED "SEARCH FOR THE COOPER HAVE: I RIVER HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW."

>> Sandy Cannon-Brown: A DOCUMENTARY SHORTLY IS LESS THAN 30 MINUTES INDEPENDENT FILM WORLD BUT OUR FILM IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE COOPER RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, AND IT'S -- IT TOOK THE EXY.

DIFTION FOUR KIDS, A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF KIDS, THROUGH THIS RIVER TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE RIVER 17 MILES FROM THE MOUTH, AND THEY HAD TO KAYAK AND HIKE AND BUSHWHACK AND SLOG INTO ALL THIS MUD TO DO IT, AND THEY ALL PERSEVERED, AND IT'S A FUN FILM.

IT'S SPECIFIC TO CAMDEN COUNTY.

BUT IT IS APPLICABLE TO ANY URBAN RIVER ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT MARYLAND FOR SURE.

THERE ARE MANY RIVERS THAT PEOPLE COULD EXPLORE IF THERE WERE NICE TRAILS FOR THEM TO USE.

>> Nancy: WHAT INTRIGUES YOU ABOUT THIS SUBJECT MATTER?

AND HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR NEXT FILM?

HOW DO YOU FIND THESE STORIES?

>> Sandy Cannon-Brown: WELL, IN THIS CASE IT'S AN -- IT WAS AN EFFORT BY UPSTREAM ALLIANCE WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION OUT OF ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, THAT IT'S VERY STRONG AND IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR KIDS, SO THEY PLANNED THIS EXPEDITION AND NOT EVEN SURE THAT THESE KIDS WOULD MAKE IT, BUT THEY DID.

I SHOULDN'T GIVE YOU A SPOILER THERE.

BUT -- SO IN THAT CASE IT WAS FINDING AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR A STORY TO TELL.

AND IN OTHER CASES WE JUST FIND THINGS IN THE PAST SCREENING THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE FESTIVAL.

I WORK WITH TWO GREAT GUYS, TOM WHARTON AND DAVID HARP, AND THROUGH SUBJECTS ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, ABOUT CRABS, ABOUT EROSION AND LEVELS AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE VERY PERTINENT TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

>> Nancy: AS FAR AS THOSE KIDS, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE?

>> Sandy Cannon-Brown: I THINK THEY WERE VERY, VERY PROUD TO DO IT BUT ALSO THEY DISCOVERED MORE THAN THE RIVER.

THEY DISCOVERED THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEY CAN DO, AND I THINK AT LEAST THREE OF THEM ARE VERY MUCH INSPIRE TO SPREAD THE WORD AND MAYBE GO INTO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, MAYBE GO INTO CAREERS LIKE THIS.

P THIS WAS VERY MUTUAL.

A COUPLE OF THE KIDS JUST HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS, SO IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THEM.

NATURE IS A WONDERFUL THING.

IT GETS PEOPLE TO SEE.

WE LIVE IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T NECESSITY ANYTHING MORE THAN CEMENT OR WHATEVER, AND THEY DISCOVERED ALL THESE THINGS, CREATURES AND ANIMALS AND PLANTS AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

>> Nancy: AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL FILMMAKER, WHAT IMPACT ARE YOUY HOPING TO HAVE?

ARE YOU HOPING TO RAISE AWARENESS OR POLICY CHANGE?

WHAT IS -- WHAT IS YOUR INTENTION?

>> Sandy Cannon-Brown: MY HOPE, OF COURSE, OF PUBLIC AWARENESS IS VERY BIG BUT I ALSO HOPE THAT PEOPLE GET INVOLVED AND DO THINGS.

THERE'S ONE FILM IN THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR THAT I JUST LOVE.

IT'S CALLED "TRAGEDY: A ZERO WASTE FILM."

AND THE REASON I LOVE IT, THE FILMMAKER DECIDED TO GO WITHOUT ANY PLASTIC, ANY WASTE FOR A WHOLE YEAR, AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

IF YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND YOU ENTRY TO BUY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT, BUT SHE DID THIS FILM AND SHE DID IT OVER 365 DAYS, SO THAT'S IN THE VIRTUAL FESTIVAL AND I'D ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO WATCH TRASHY.

>> Nancy: MY UNDERSTANDING IS WOMEN WILL BE RECEIVING THE WOMEN OF IMPACT AWARDS THIS YEAR AND YOU ARE AMONG THOSE THREE WOMEN.

TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO GET THIS AWARD AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT.

THESE ARE -- YOU ARE AMONG THREE WOMEN THAT OBVIOUSLY ARE TURNING HEADS IN THE FILM WORLD.

>> Sandy Cannon-Brown: WELL, THANK YOU.

I'M VERY, VERY HUMBLE BY THIS AND I FEEL THAT, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE, I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT I DESERVE THIS COMPARED TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE, BUT WHAT I THINK THAT THE AWARD IS ABOUT IS THAT WE MAKE FILMS THAT DO HAVE AN IMPACT AND DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD IN A SMALL WAY AND SOMETIMES IN A BIG WAY.

>> Jeff: AS WE APPROACH MPT'S HBCU WEEK, WE ARE JOINED BY DR. WANE FREDERICK, THE PRESIDENT OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

DR. FREDERICK, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

AND LET ME BEGIN WITH THE NEWS THAT YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RETIRE FROM THE PRESIDENCY.

>> Dr. Wayne Frederick: YES.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I CERTAINLY HAVE.

NEXT YEAR WILL BE A DECADE THAT I WILL WILL HAVE SERVED IN THIS ROLE AND IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE DECADE OF GROWTH AND MOVING MY ALMA MATER FORWARD AND BE I THINK THE NEXT STEP IN THAT IS TO HELP CONDUCT A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED IT'S YOUR ALMA MATER THREE ADVERTISEMENTS OVER, THOUGH, RIGHT?

-- TIMES OVER.

>> Fred: I LIKE TO SAY I DID THE REMEDIAL PROGRAM.

I'VE GOT TO COME BY AND -- TWO YEARS UNDERGRAD AND FOUR YEARS MEDICAL SCHOOL, SO MY CBO READS A LITTLE CONFUSING BECAUSE I GOT MY BS TWO BEERS BEFORE I GOT BY MARYLAND AND I GOT MY MARYLAND AS A FACULTY MEMBER.

>> Jeff: NEVER STOP LEARNING, RIGHT?

>> Dr. Wayne Frederick: THEARTD, THAT'S RIGHT.

I'VE BEEN ASKING FOLKS IN THE LAW SCHOOL TO COME OVER THERE AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM.

>> Jeff: WELL, WHEN YOU STARTED I GUESS AS INTERIM PRESIDENT ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAVE BEEN THE BIG MILESTONES IN THAT PERIOD?

>> Dr. Wayne Frederick: YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU LOOK AT 2015, WE WERE FIVE YEARS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT RECESSION.

WE HAD PRESIDENT OBAMA IN OFFICE LOOKING AT SCORECARDS FOR INSTITUTIONS.

AND WE HAD AN INSTITUTION WITH A HOSPITAL THAT WAS IN GREAT DIFFICULTY, LOSING OVER $60 MILLION A YEAR.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE THEN TO TODAY, OUR GRADUATION RATE IS UP WELL OVER 25%, FOUR-YEAR RATE.

YOU LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT JUST STABILITY BUT WE'RE THRIVING.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A BOTTOM LINE OF $200 MILLION PLUS ON A REVENUE BASE OF JUST OVER $1 BILLION.

THAT'S ABOUT A 20% CONTRIBUTION.

AND SO WE HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION THIS YEAR.

OUR FUNDRAISING WAS MEAGER, PASSED 3-POINT GO MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, AND WE ARE IN $175 MILLION RANGE, SO IT'S NICE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO, AND I THINK, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN YOU LOOK FORWARD, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO REDO THE PHYSICAL PLANT OF THE CAMPUS, SOME $785 MILLION WORTH OF RENOVATIONS AND A HOSPITAL THAT WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE RANGE OF $650 MILLION TO $700 MILLION SO WARE TALKING ABOUT 1.

$5 BILLION WORTH OF PHYSICAL PLANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL OCCUR OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> Jeff: YOU'RE THE ONLY HBCU IN OUR REGION THAT OPS A HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER.

TELL ME HOW THAT FITS INTO THE BROADER MISSION OF THE INSTITUTION.

>> Dr. Wayne Frederick: YES.

HOWARD WAS FOUND, IT WAS THE ONLY FEDERALLY CHARGED HBCU ON MARCH 1967.

WE HAD A MEDICAL SCHOOL WITH TWO BLACK FACULTY MEMBERS ON IT, VERY, VERY AMBITIOUS, BUT AS A RESULT WE HAVE NOW PRODUCED MORE AFRICAN AMERICAN PHYSICIANS THAN ANY SINGLE INSTITUTION IN THE COUNTRY.

WE SEND MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO MEDICAL CENTER.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PANDEMIC AND THE SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, I WOULD SAY IT BROUGHT TO BEAR, RICK NITION THAT THE ROLE HOWARD UNIVERSITY PLAYS IS AN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL ROLE TODAY, SO WE ARE PLANNING TO ACTUALLY DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT EXPERIENCE.

WE BELIEVE WE MUST NOW PROBABLY DOUBLE OR MED SCHOOL COMPLAPS WE HAVE THE FIFTH MOST MED SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY GETTING OVER 500.

PLAS OF 1926.

WE MAY PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE ONE ESPECIALLY FAMOUS HOWARD GRADUATE LIVING ACROSS TOWN THERE IN DC IN VICE PRESIDENT'S MANSION.

HOW BIG OF A BOOST HAS THAT BEEN ON CAMPUS AND MAYBE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS?

>> Dr. Wayne Frederick: I'LL START PERSONALLY.

SHE SAT ON THE COMMITTEE THAT APPOINTED ME SO SHE'S BECOME A VERY DEAR FRIEND AND I ADMIRE HER WORK, HER INTELLIGENCE, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN A GREAT ADVISER.

SITTING ON CAMPUS, I THINK IT'S A SOURCE OF PRIDE.

CERTAINLY ON CAMPUS.

I THINK YOU BACK TO MARCH '67, THE 16th PRESIDENT JOHNSON SIGNED.

HE WAS THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT TO BE IM IMPEACHED AND HE SIGNED THE CHARTED TORE START AN INSTITUTION THAT GAVE RICE TO THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE VP, SO I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY AND, AND I THINK IN TERMS OF ADMISSIONS WE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN A RISE IN ADMISSIONS OVER THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS, AND, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT PBS HAS HAD A LOT TO DO THAT THAT THAT, BUT I HASTEN TO POINT OUT THE CON SIEWRNLS HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY DISCERNING.

AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN A POINT OF ATTRACTION.

>> Jeff: BROADLY SPEAKING, WHAT THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR HBCUS IN GENERAL AND WHAT THE FUTURE SHOULD BE, IN YOUR OPINION.

>> Dr. Wayne Frederick: THE PAST FEW YEARS I THINK HAVE REALLY UNDERSCORED WHY THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL.

THE DNA OF HOWARD IS SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND I LOOK AT HBCUS AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE IN TERMS OF DIVERSIFYING THE WORKFORCE, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING BLACK EXCELLENCE HAS BEEN CRITICAL.

AS WE GO FORWARD, THOUGH, AS A COUNTRY, WE ARE ONLY GOING TO BE AS STRONG AS OUR WEAKEST LINK, AND WHI WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR HISTORY AS A COUNTRY.

AND WHERE WE REALLY, I WOULD SAY, STEPPED ON OR DISREGARDED THE HUMANITY OF A SEGMENT OF SOCIETY, WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS A NATION, I THINK, AND DEFINITELY OUR HBUCUS HAVE TOY PLAY A PART, TO AMPLIFY THE HUMANITY OF ALL AMERICANS CITIZENS, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A VERY, VERY GREAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OF US, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR HBCUS TO DO IT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR FOR GENERATION ALLEY WEALTH, ET CETERA, AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT COURSE AND THAT DIRECTION WITH OUR HBCUS.

>> Jeff: DR. WAYNE FREDERICK, PRESIDENT HOWFORTDZ.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

HBCU WEEK STARTS SEPTEMBER THE 5th ON MPT.

AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US EVER WEEK AT THIS TIME FOR THE LATEST ON MARYLAND APPLICABLE STAGE.

NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

67.

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