Tuesday, June 5 | 1 PM: NGS and Norwegian Embassy
World Environment Day 2007: Melting Ice - A Hot Topic?
National Geographic Headquarters, Grosvenor Auditorium, 17th and M Streets NW
On June 5, the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and National Geographic Society host a conference to celebrate World Environment Day. The conference will discuss political and technological solutions to global warming. Open to the public. The conference is co-sponsored by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and will discuss political and technological solutions to global warming.
The Conference is open to the public, but registration is requested at rsvp.emb.washington@mfa.no
Program:
1 p.m.: Opening
- Terry D. Garcia, Executive Vice President, National Geographic Society
- H.E. Knut Vollebaek, Ambassador of Norway
- Video greetings from speakers at remote locations incl transmission from the opening of the World Environment Day in Tromsø
- Bill Mansfield, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, UNEP: Visual evidence of Global Climate and Eco System Change
Ice Bear - NG film screening (ed. vers.) with presentations
- Liv Arnesen, Polar Explorer: Exploring the impacts on the Arctic environment
- Will Steger, Polar Explorer: Report from his latest expedition, Global Warming 101
Panel 1. Melting Ice – A Hot Political Topic?
- Moderator: Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post Staff Writer
- Dennis Dimick, Executive Editor National Geographic Magazine: "The Big Thaw - Ice on the Run, Seas on the Rise".
- Erik Assadourian, World Watch Institute: "Moving beyond the consumer society"
Panel 2. Reducing Emissions - What Are the Options?
- Moderator: David F. Hales, President of the College of the Atlantic
- Bill Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, EPA
- Lasse Nord, Norwegian Commission on Low Emissions: "How Norway can reduce its emissions by 50-80% by 2050"
- Silje Schei Tveitdal, Political Advisor on Energy and Environment; Norwegian Parliament: "From oil economy to renewable energies"
Carbon capture and storage
- Introduction: William Christensen, Norwegian Ministry of Energy
- Svend Soeyland, Bellona: "CO2 sequestration - bridging technology towards a renewable future"
- Arve Thorvik, Vice President, EU Affairs, STATOIL: "Carbon Capture and Storage. Industrial solutions in the making"
Panel 3. Technological Solutions
- Moderator: Dr. Joseph Romm, Center for Energy and Climate Solutions: The Low Carbon Car of the Future
- Alden Meyer, Director of Strategy Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists: "Technological solutions to global warming"
- Scott Sklar, President, Stella Group: Market Trends for Renewable distributed Generation and Smart Grids
- Peter Repinski, UNEP: Energy efficiency: Green buildings
Closing remarks representative from Sierra Club
Followed by reception at 6 PM offered by the Royal Norwegian Embassy (at National Geographic Society).
1 PM: New America Foundation
From Silicon to Photovoltaics: A Nasdaq Blue Chip’s Trip into Solar Energy Cell Production
366 Dirksen
Featured Speakers
- Michael Splinter, President and CEO, Applied Materials, Inc.
- Steven Clemons, Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation and Publisher, www.TheWashingtonNote.com
Hailed by many as the greatest business opportunity of the 21st Century, "clean tech" may offer more than just an economic engine—it offers an opportunity to benefit people around the world. Applied Materials CEO Michael Splinter will discuss the importance of solar power as a meaningful part of a comprehensive American energy strategy.
Michael Splinter is President and CEO of Applied Materials, Inc. Splinter, a 30-year veteran of the semiconductor industry, previously served as an executive at Intel Corporation. Currently, he serves on the board of Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International and he is the Board Chair of Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Internationally, Splinter is a member of the Governors' Council of the World Economic Forum.
Join New America Foundation and Michael Splinter for an engaging discussion on the future of solar energy, followed by a robust Q&A session moderated by Steven Clemons.
To RSVP for this event, email: communications@newamerica.net with name, affiliation, and contact information.
If you have questions, call or email Liz Wu at (202) 986-2700 x315 or wu@newamerica.net.
1:30 PM: Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the California Institute for Federal Policy Research
The Low Carbon Fuel Standard: A Climate Policy Solution for Transportation
406 Dirksen
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the California Institute for Federal Policy Research invite you to a Congressional briefing on low carbon fuel standard policies and a draft policy report developed by the University of California in response to California's Executive Order S-1-07. Future transportation energy policy must simultaneously address the challenges of energy security AND global warming. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is a transportation sector-specific policy which seeks to provide industry with the appropriate structure and incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the lowest cost and fastest pace by harnessing market competition and preserving consumer choice. Since its original introduction in California as the first early action item under California's Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), the LCFS has received significant national and international support this year as detailed below:
- January 16: Senators Sanders (I-VT) and Boxer (D-CA) introduced legislation incorporating a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (S.309).
- January 31: the European Commission proposed a European LCFS.
- February 21: Senator McCain (R-AZ) endorsed a national LCFS.
- March 30: Senators Collins (R-ME), Feinstein (D-CA) and Snowe (R-ME) introduced legislation to enact a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (S. 1073).
- May 3: Senators Boxer, Collins and Lieberman (I-CT) introduced legislation incorporating a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (S. 1297).
- May 8: Rep. Inslee (D-WA) introduced a Federal Low Carbon Fuels Act (H.R. 2215).
- May 8: Senators Obama (D-IL) and Harkin (D-IA) introduced legislation to enact a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (S. 1324).
A distinguished panel will discuss the draft LCFS policy report, entitled "A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard for California," and the primary motivations, implementation issues, and compliance strategies associated with a Low Carbon Fuel Standard for California and the nation. The panel will be moderated by Anthony Eggert, Energy Policy Advisor, University of California. Session panelists include:
- Rep. Inslee (D-WA)
- Alex Farrell, UC Berkeley Professor and Co-Director of Report "A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard for California"
- Roland Hwang, Policy Director, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Michael Goo, Majority Counsel, US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Eric Swedlund, Deputy Director, Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Senior Energy Industry Representative (TBD)
Technical Discussion Session: 3-4 PM
In this session, Alex Farrell, UC Berkeley Professor and Co-Director of Report "A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard for California," will present the technical details and challenges of implementing an LCFS. This will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience.
The LCFS policy report was funded by the Energy Foundation. Recent drafts of the LCFS policy report and related documents can be found on the website of the California Energy Commission.
This briefing is open to the public and no reservations are required.
For more information, contact Fred Beck at 202-662-1892 (fbeck@eesi.org)
5:30 PM: British American Business Association in conjunction with the BABA Energy & Environment Committee and the The Heinz Center Business Council for Economics and the Environment
Energy: Security, Costs, and Climate. How Does your Business Cope?
A "Business After Hours" Reception and Briefing. Registration/Reception at 5:30 PM. The presentation and networking reception runs from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. All companies face the same problems when it comes to energy: how to keep their costs down, meet their environmental goals, and ensure the lights stay on - simultaneously. Come and hear case studies from several very different companies on how they're managing to stay competitive in this challenging and ever-changing environment. Cost: $35.00/person (Members their guests) $40.00/person (Non-members).
Panel:
- The Honorable Sherwood Boehlert, moderator
- Randall Overbey, Former President and Current Consultant, Energy and Primary Metals Development, Alcoa
- Rachel Miller, Director of Federal Affairs, BP America Inc.
- Mark Edie, Office of the General Counsel, Ford Motor Company
- Tom Kiser, President and CEO, Professional Supply Inc.
- A representative TBD from General Electric
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Jun 8 | 1 PM: EESI
The Role of Advanced Hydropower and Ocean Energy in Upcoming Energy Legislation
428A Russell
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the National Hydropower Association (NHA) invite you to learn about the most recent developments in advanced hydropower and ocean renewable energy technologies and how this fits into the energy bills coming before the House and Senate this summer. Existing conventional hydropower represents 75 percent of current U.S. renewable energy generation (over 270,000 GWh). A recent Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) report entitled "Assessment of Waterpower Potential and Development Needs" finds additional potential for waterpower technologies--including small and low-power conventional hydro, capacity gains at existing hydro facilities, new hydropower at existing dams, ocean wave technologies and hydrokinetic technologies-is conservatively estimated at 23,000 MW by 2025. Capacity gains at existing facilities from improved turbine design can be significant. Preliminary results from DOE's advanced turbine at Grant County Public Utility District shows a 14 percent increase in power output. Hydrokinetic power projects generate electricity from moving water (river currents, tidal currents, and ocean waves and currents) without the need for additional dams or impoundments.
The briefing will discuss the results of the EPRI report, hydro and water power potentials, the state of ocean renewable technologies, hydrokinetic technologies, results seen from new turbine designs installed at Wanapum Dam in Grant County, WA, and policies needed to stimulate these technologies including the Production Tax Credit (PTC), Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) and R&D funding. The briefing panel includes:
- Doug Dixon, Hydropower Program Technical Lead and author of "Assessment of Waterpower Potential and Development Needs", Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
- George Hagerman, Senior Research Associate, Center for Energy and the Global Environment, Virginia Tech
- Wayne Krouse, President & CEO, Hydro Green Energy
- Steve Brown, Director of Natural Resources, Grant County Public Utility District
- Jeffery Leahy, Esq., Senior Manager of Government and Legal Affiairs, National Hydropower Association
To reaffirm hydropower's vital role in ensuring clean energy for the future, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) on May 11 introduced the "Clean Energy Investment Assurance Act of 2007" (S. 1370). The bill provides tax parity for qualifying hydropower resources and a long-term extension of the PTC and extension and additional funding of the CREBs program for hydropower facilities and emerging waterpower technologies. The legislation adds new zero carbon-emissions resources to the PTC. This inclusion opens the door for greater development of new waterpower technologies, such as ocean, tidal, and in-stream hydrokinetic systems.
This briefing is open to the public and no reservations are required.
For more information, contact Fred Beck at 202-662-1892 (fbeck@eesi.org)
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