DENVER - January 12, 2010 (News Release)


America’s former rust belt is capitalizing on new energy technologies to spur robust economic development, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland will tell a national audience of energy industry leaders and policy makers in Washington.

Energy Central, the leading resource in the global power industry for news, events, databases, insight and analysis, announced today that Ted Strickland, Governor, State of Ohio will discuss how aggressive advanced energy requirements and targeted industry investments are positioning Ohio and the region to be a leading global supplier of clean energy and clean energy technologies during a keynote address at the EnergyBiz Leadership Forum (http://www.energybizforum.com).

The 2010 Forum will examine the fallout of the economic downturn, look at stimulus funds and early returns on the Obama administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) investment, and discuss the country’s progress in developing a new energy economy. Speakers include representatives from utilities, government, consumer advocacy groups, research laboratories, energy associations, businesses, regulators, and the energy vendor community.

The Forum will be held in Washington, DC, February 28 through March 2, 2010, at the Mandarin Oriental. Gov. Strickland will speak Monday, March 1, from 1:30 – 2:00 pm, providing a state-level perspective on the current condition of the power industry and the nation’s drive toward energy efficiency and innovation.

“Ohio is perhaps at the forefront of efforts to transform a troubled Midwest industrial belt into a vibrant 21st century economy showcasing energy efficiency and renewables,” Martin Rosenberg, editor-in-chief of EnergyBiz magazine said. “Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio represents the kind of forward looking leader who wants to spur this transformation even as his region and the nation emerge from a nasty economic downturn.”

In 2008 the governor signed Senate Bill 221, a plan that established the third-most aggressive renewable energy standard in the nation, and the most aggressive energy efficiency requirement in the nation. Ohio’s goal is for 25 percent of the electricity sold in the state to come from advanced energy sources by the year 2025 and at least 12.5 percent must be renewable – with at least half of the renewable energy being generated in Ohio.

That same year Strickland also signed a $1.57 billion state stimulus package aimed at creating tens of thousands of new jobs in growth sectors like advanced energy. And he secured funding to accelerate the construction of 250 new elementary, middle and high schools in the state, which are being built to meet nationally recognized energy-efficiency standards.

As state co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Gov. Strickland hosted the 2009 national ARC fall conference in Athens, Ohio, titled “New Energy. New Jobs. New Opportunities for Appalachia,” which brought leaders from around the country together to discuss the region’s potential and commitment to growing an advanced energy economy.

“Ohio spurred glass manufacturing, and today we’re home to the nation’s largest thin-film solar panel manufacturing facility. Ohio perfected the manufacturing process for automobiles, and today – using that process – we’re the #2 state in potential for manufacturing wind turbines and components. We’re using the knowledge gained from generations of inventing and producing to meet the world’s growing demand for clean energy solutions,” Strickland said. “Pairing Ohio’s strengths with aggressive policies is creating good jobs for people who work for a living while establishing Ohio as a leading supplier of clean energy.”

In addition to Strickland’s keynote address, numerous other panels will detail local, state, and federal government viewpoints on varying aspects of energy:

Energy innovation pioneer Will Wynn, former mayor of Austin, TX and current principal at LPB Energy Management, will share a municipal perspective as part of a panel, “The Pain on Main Street,” on Monday, March 1. He will be joined by Chairman Betty Ann Kane, District of Columbia Public Service Commission.

Stephen Wright, Boneville Power Administrator, will weigh in on the promise and hype behind the massive funding pouring in to energy innovation and renewables development during the Monday, March 1 panel “Renewables and Efficiency — Ready for Prime Time?”

Rep. Bart Gordon, Chair, House Committee on Science and Technology, will provide a federal look at grid and information network advancements during the “Technology — Managing the Information Avalanche” panel on Tuesday, March 2.

Also on Tuesday, March 2, a panel titled “Governments Supporting Role” will contain regulatory and state senate voices , with David Coen, Board Member, Vermont Public Service Board; Chairman of the Board & President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) joining Delaware State Senator Harris McDowell III.

To date, in addition to the governor, speakers and panelists include:

· Sharon Allan, Senior Executive, Accenture
 

· Jon Arnold, Managing Director, Worldwide Power and Utilities, Microsoft
 

· Denise Bode, Chief Executive Officer, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
 

· David Coen, Board Member, Vermont Public Service Board; Chairman of the Board & President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
 

· David Crane, President & Chief Executive Officer, NRG Energy
 

· Rich Creegan, Vice President Product Marketing and Strategy, Itron
 

· Mark Crisson, President & Chief Executive Officer, American Public Power Association (APPA)
 

· Moray Dewhurst, Vice Chairman & Chief of Staff, FPL Group
 

· Eric Dresselhuys, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Silver Spring Networks
 

· Anthony Earley, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, DTE Energy
 

· Glenn English, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
 

· Marvin S. Fertel, President & Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
 

· S. Julio Friedmann, Carbon Management Program Leader, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
 

· Clark Gellings, Vice President of Technology, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
 

· John Gilleland, Nuclear Program Manager, TerraPower
 

· Rep. Bart Gordon, Chair, House Committee on Science and Technology
 

· Charles Gray, Executive Director, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
 

· Greg Guthridge, Managing Director, Global Retail Utilities Practice, Accenture
 

· Mary Healey, Consumer Counsel, State of Connecticut; President, National Association of State Utility Advocates (NASUCA)
 

· Ralph Izzo, Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG)
 

· Linda Jackman, Group Vice President, Oracle Utilities Product & Industry Strategy
 

· Betty Ann Kane, Chairman, District of Columbia Public Service Commission
 

· Tom Kuhn, President, Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
 

· Sen. Harris McDowell III, Senator, State of Delaware
 

· Joseph Rigby, Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer, Pepco Holdings
 

· Stephan Scholl, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Tax & Utilities Global Business Unit, Oracle Corporation
 

· Edward Tirello, Jr., Managing Director and Senior Power Strategist, Berenson & Company
 

· Malcolm Unsworth, President & Chief Executive Officer, Itron
 

· Guerry Waters, Vice President, Industry Strategy, Oracle Utilities
 

· Barry Worthington, Executive Director, United States Energy Association
 

· Stephen Wright, Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration
 

· Will Wynn, Principal, LPB Energy Management; former Chairman, Austin Energy; former Mayor, City of Austin, TX

EnergyBiz magazine’s parent company, Energy Central produces the Leadership Forum. Through interactive presentations, Q&A sessions, and roundtables, the conference discusses and analyzes energy production, consumption, and policy in the United States. See the EnergyBiz Leadership Forum Web site for details, including a full schedule and agenda for the event.

About Energy Central:

Energy Central, headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, and established in 1996, is the leading resource connecting professionals in the global power industry to news, events, databases, insight and analysis. Encompassing web sites, e-newsletters, direct marketing channels, events and print publications, the company delivers critical business information to top executives, managers, leaders and industry influencers. Energy Central currently publishes EnergyBiz and Intelligent Utility magazines. Sierra Energy Group is the research and analysis division of Energy Central, providing trusted, high-value, accurate information on global power issues. EnergyCentralJobs.com is the most-used job web site in the global power industry, connecting job seekers and employers.

Contact:
Energy Central
Michael Guilfoyle, 303.228.4763
mguilfoyle@energycentral.com

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