fw williams energy williams weather model research material several minutes general market universities receive data market alliance get weather data williams part university thoughts original message ryan david sent tuesday august 28 2001 11 45 presto kevin subject williams energy size dave original message bennett steve sent monday august 27 2001 9 23 hamilton tony ryan david pace andy decook todd subject sure seen williams signs 10 million weather climate research alliance university oklahoma august 27 2001 09 02 00 et increased accuracy weather prediction technology provides significant economic advantages energy industry leader tulsa okla aug 27 prnewswire unit williams wmb today announced 10 million strategic alliance university oklahoma ou enhance weather climate research technology development undergraduate graduate meteorology education commercial arrangement largest kind u private corporation university meteorology program mutually beneficial agreement allows ou expand top tier meteorology programs williams receives exclusive weather analysis forecasting tools give williams globally competitive advantage energy marketing trading related educational research activities expected produce williams nation qualified meteorologists weather impact decision makers partnership business higher education parties benefit keith e bailey williams chairman president ceo said alliance provides williams access weather research technology dramatically superior traditional government weather services customized williams unique needs weather number one driver volatility gas power markets expect see significant return investment history making agreement williams university oklahoma school meteorology national leader field dramatic demonstration power private sector university partnership creation economic productivity growth expansion knowledge said ou president david l boren predict alliance become national model joining together american international leadership higher education private sector creativity vitality deeply grateful confidence placed outstanding program university williams highlights expansive agreement include unique advanced weather climate prediction capabilities tailored university oklahoma weather programs specifically williams weather sensitive businesses grant 8 1 million five years fund research advanced weather analysis prediction center analysis prediction storms caps includes funding supercomputer powerful among big 12 institutions grant 1 6 million five years fund regional climate research cooperative institute mesoscale meteorological studies money bring ou advanced climate system model world fund research scientists well graduate undergraduate students gifts create williams endowed chair advanced student computer laboratory funding three williams fellows master science professional meteorology degree school meteorology gift oklahoma climatological survey believe outcome partnership yield world class suite weather forecast analysis products suited use energy marketing trading industry says denise russell director market analysis williams energy marketing trading unit 1998 began hire ou meteorology graduates also valuable pipeline new technological human resource capabilities maintain developments according dr john snow dean ou college geosciences director oklahoma weather center programs school meteorology already begun aggressively recruit nation top graduate students part new partnership expand effort next several months contracts signed alliance williams university oklahoma obtained resources necessary continue generating new knowledge defining global standard weather technology developing outstanding graduates bringing new jobs opportunities oklahoma weather related fields says snow williams ou alliance made possible technology advances computing resources enactment oklahoma state questions 680 681 provide establishment commercial entities licensed exclusive right commercialize technology developed within research development sections universities williams wmb williams subsidiaries connects businesses energy delivering innovative reliable products services williams information available www williams com portions document may constitute forward looking statements defined federal law although company believes statements based reasonable assumptions assurance actual outcomes materially different statements made reliance safe harbor protections provided private securities reform act 1995 additional information issues could lead material changes performance contained company annual reports filed securities exchange commission make opinion count click 2001 prnewswire