Changing of the Guard

This issue, our first in large format, represents a milestone for the Journal of Energy Engineering. One of the goals of the Journal has been to improve on its past excellence by increasing the quantity and quality of papers it contains and serving as a forum for presentation and discussion of critical issues affecting energy production. We have to some degree succeeded in this effort as reflected by the new improved format, which will allow us to increase the number of articles published per issue. Another recent milestone is implementing an entirely electronic submittal process, which will greatly facilitate the submission and processing of papers. This issue reflects the continuing efforts of our editorial board, ASCE Publications, readers, reviewers, and contributors, all of which should be congratulated. Special thanks to Dr. John E. Edinger for his active support and guidance and to Drs. Chung-Li Tseng, Hilary Inyang, and Badrul H. Chowdhury for serving as editors of some excellent special issues that have been or are in the process of being published. Very special thanks go to Johanna Reinhart and Jackie Perry, ASCE Journals, for all of their hard work and support.

This issue also represents a milestone for me personally. I have resigned as Editor-In-Chief and will be replaced by Dr. Hilary Inyang, Duke Energy Distinguished Professor and Director, Global Institute for Energy and Environmental Systems. I have greatly enjoyed working on the Journal and plan on remaining an active member of the Editorial Board. My resignation is prompted only by my desire to pursue other activities for the Energy Division. In addition, I am entirely confident that the Journal will continue to grow and attain prominence under Dr. Inyang's leadership and with your support. I would like to thank everyone for your help over the past years and I look forward to working with you in the future.

The editor is supported by the executive committee, task committees, associate editors, and of course, the volunteer expert reviewers in distributing the load and equalizing the weight of emphasis in publications among the four pillars of the Energy Division: environmental, fossil, hydropower, and petroleum. Past and future efforts will be focused on ensuring that quality papers are expeditiously published as well as on actively soliciting papers in each of these four focus areas.

The Journal of Energy Engineering represents a diverse ASCE membership, not only of academics but of practicing engineers in a political and regulated environment. The Journal seeks to provide information of value and interest to practicing civil engineers in all these diverse areas. This information will be provided through regular publication of papers and articles as well as in special issues focusing on topics of particular importance and relevance to our readers.

To continue our growth, we need be to continue to attract and publish quality papers. To be acceptable by ASCE standards, papers must be an original review of past practice, present information of current interest, or probe new fields of civil engineering activity. Papers should include an original review of past practice, and practical papers are highly encouraged. As such, submission of both practice and technical papers to the Journal is encouraged. A useful mix is sought of technical papers describing research advancing the state-of-the-art and practice papers demonstrating practical and useful applications of that research.

The Journal of Energy Engineering also seeks to provide a forum for discussion of relevant and current issues affecting energy production. Discussions and closures discussing the content of other papers published in the Journal are encouraged. In addition, essays or forum papers related to current issues affecting energy production will be included in the Journal.

We have and will continue to strive for a balance between papers in each of the four focus areas and between theory and practice and useful discussion. The staff of the Journal of Energy Engineering, under Dr. Inyang's leadership as the new Editor, will zealously continue publication of interesting and useful research, applications, and information while searching for better means of addressing the needs of our readers.

Readers of the Journal of Energy Engineering should also find the following articles of interest.