FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2013
Contacts: Shelly Baron, 501-537-0190 or shelly@arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org
Steve Patterson, 501-537-0190 or steve@arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org
New law will enable State Agencies to reduce costs and create jobs
Little Rock, AR – As early as next year, energy savings projects among the state’s inventory of 2,500 public buildings will potentially create hundreds of jobs for Arkansans and save significant taxpayer dollars, according to a panel of experts assembled by the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association for the group’s annual policy conference, “emPOWERing Arkansas”, scheduled in North Little Rock on October 1.
The 2:00 pm panel program entitled “Impact of State Agency Energy Savings Projects on the Private Sector” is part of the AAEA’s day long policy conference at the Riverfront Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock. Panelists will focus on the economic opportunities for the private sector that will result from the state’s revised energy savings program for state agencies. The legislative revisions to the Guaranteed Energy Cost Savings Act go into effect after January 2014. The panel will provide an overview of energy savings performance contracting and how the projects will impact the state economy.
A similar program in Alabama has resulted in taxpayer savings of nearly $4 million, according to an announcement by Governor Robert Bentley in July.
The October 1 panel will be moderated by Tom Plant from Advanced Energy Economy,a national association of business leaders who are making the global energy system more secure, clean, and affordable. Energy Systems Group, specializing in developing sustainable energy solutions which allow building owners to maximize their energy efficiency and operational performance, while reducing their carbon footprint, is sponsoring the program.
This panel discussion will include:
- J.D. Lowery, Deputy Director, Arkansas Energy Office, a division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission that promotes energy efficiency and emerging technologies through energy education and information programs as well as managing federal energy funds in the State of Arkansas
- Chris Salzmann, Regional Director, Energy Systems Group
- Melanie Hayes, E-3 Strategic Resources, offering business development, marketing, consulting, and program management services in the energy efficiency services space
- Alan Hope, President & CEO, Powers of Arkansas, a locally owned enterprise working to make buildings safe, productive, comfortable and efficient to operate
- Pam Speraw, CEO, Sun City Solar Energy, a leader in installing and designing solar and energy management systems
“emPOWERing Arkansas” is presented by Viridian in partnership with the University of Arkansas College of Engineering and sponsored by the City of North Little Rock.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
AAEA Members and Guests: For event information, registration, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: http://arkansasadvancedenergy.com/files/dmfile/eventannouncement.pdf
Members of the media: Please contact Shelly Baron at (501) 537-0190 or shelly@arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org for information on media credentials.
Arkansas Advanced Energy Association is a business group dedicated to growing Arkansas’s economy by expanding our energy workforce and manufacturing base through the increased development, manufacture, and utilization of advanced energy technologies. www.arkansasadvancedenergy.com
The Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation is the educational affiliate of the AAEA. The Foundation promotes greater public understanding of advanced energy in Arkansas through research, public education programs and economic and workforce development. The Foundation is dedicated to informing the energy policy debate with well-researched, fact-based data on the advanced energy economy in Arkansas and by providing a public forum where state leaders can address Arkansas’s energy challenges for the future. www.arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org
Report Shows Global Economic Impacts of Advanced Energy
A new report released in January 2013 by Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) shows that advanced energy was a $1.1 trillion global market in 2011, larger than pharmaceutical manufacturing worldwide. The first-ever analysis of the advanced energy sector also shows that the market in the U.S. represents a significant part of the nation’s economy, with $132 billion in revenue in 2011, and a 19 percent growth rate estimated for 2012, with U.S. revenue rising to $157 billion. Read the full report here: http://arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org/files/dmfile/AEEIEconomicImpactofAdvancedEnergy-Final.pdf
Follow Arkansas Advanced Energy on Twitter @ArkAdvEnergy and like “Arkansas Advanced Energy Association” on Facebook.
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