FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2014
Contacts: Shelly Baron, 501-537-0190 or shelly@arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org
Steve Patterson, 501-537-0190 or steve@arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org
Can Arkansas Advanced Energy Companies Help State Meet the Clean Power Challenge
Little Rock, AR – This Friday’s “emPOWERing Arkansas” conference will feature a morning policy roundtable on the potential for state advanced energy companies to help Arkansas meet its clean power plan challenge. The group discussion is one of the most popular elements of the annual conference, which is planned this year at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Little Rock.
The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA) is expecting an estimated crowd of 200 members and guests to gather in Little Rock this Friday, October 17 for the 3rd Annual emPOWERing Arkansas Annual Meeting and Policy Conference.
The policy roundtable entitled “Arkansas Advanced Energy Companies Poised to Answer the Clean Power Challenge” will immediately follow remarks by Sen. Mark Pyror at 9:30 a.m. and will be moderated by Matt Stanberry with Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) and Ken Smith, AAEA Policy Director. Together they will lead a discussion focused on the latest array of advanced energy technologies in Arkansas that can factor into a state plan to implement the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
Stanberry and Smith will engage AAEA members and other experts in a broad range of policy discussions focused on the intersection of economic opportunity and regulatory requirements. This discussion is another opportunity to define an energy policy agenda that ensures Arkansas companies remain competitive in a global economy that is readily turning to advanced energy technologies as a reliable and affordable way to reduce energy costs.
Stanberry is Vice President of Market Development with AAEA’s national partner, the Advanced Energy Economy (AEE). He leads AEE’s analytics team and oversees the organization’s engagement at the federal and state levels regarding EPA’s regulation of carbon from the power sector.
Smith has served as AAEA’s Policy Director since the organization was launched in 2012. He established the first Nature Conservancy office in Arkansas in the 1980s and later served as Executive Director of the Ozark Natural Science Center. During the Clinton Administration, Smith served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department and later was elevated to Assistant Secretary for Fish and. After returning to Arkansas, Smith became Vice President and Executive Director of Audubon Arkansas until 2010.
“We are looking forward to the roundtable discussion as the Clean Power Plan highlights how business and the Arkansas economy can benefit from implementation of the Plan,” said Steve Patterson, AAEA Executive Director. “Both Matt and Ken have worked extensively to analyze and seek improvements to the EPA guidelines and we welcome the opportunity for AAEA members and guests to give us feedback on the implementation in Arkansas.”
Current sponsors of “emPOWERing Arkansas” include:
Presenting Sponsor: Powers of AR and Advanced Energy Economy
Partner Sponsor: Seal Energy Solutions and Viridian
Program Sponsors: Energy Systems Group and Pinnacle Energy Services
Advanced Energy Supporters: CenterPoint Energy, CLEAResult, Entegrity Energy Partners, Harrison Energy Partners, Home Energy RX, Middleton, Inc., NextGen Illumination, Picasolar, Silicon Solar Solutions
Refreshments Sponsor: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Inc.
The day’s events begin with registration at 9:00 a.m. and continue through the day. The Program Agenda for emPOWERing Arkansas is as follows:
9:30 a.m. – Remarks from Senator Mark Pryor
Policy Roundtable: AR Advanced Energy Companies Poised to Answer the Clean Power Challenge
- A few weeks before Arkansans go to the polls, Senator Mark Pryor will address advanced energy stakeholders. Pryor will make remarks regarding strategies for federal energy policy.
- Moderated by Ken Smith, AAEA Policy Director, and Matt Stanberry, Vice President of Market Development for the Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), this discussion will focus on the latest array of advanced energy technologies in Arkansas that can factor into a state plan to implement EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
12:00 p.m. – Lunch to name the winner of the first Ron Bel Advanced Energy Leadership Award and a program featuring three of the region’s experts on energy efficiency technology and investment trends.
Joe Mowery, Managing Director at Stephens Inc. and a leading investment banker in the area of energy technology, will moderate a panel discussion with two of the country’s top energy efficiency company CEOs – Dr. Randy Hoff, CEO of Cenergistic of Dallas, TX and Glenn Garland, Chairman and CEO of CLEAResult.
1:30 p.m. – Remarks from Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Ross
Advanced Energy Economic Empact Briefing
Remarks from Gubernatorial Candidate Asa Hutchinson
- A few weeks before Arkansans elect their new Governor, candidates Mike Ross and Asa Hutchinson will address advanced energy stakeholders. Ross and Hutchinson will each make remarks regarding their respective energy and economic development strategies.
- A briefing by Jim Metzger with HISTECON Associates on the results of the latest Advanced Energy Jobs Census conducted by the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation (AAEF).
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
AAEA Members and Guests: For event information, registration, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: http://arkansasadvancedenergy.com/index.cfm?objectid=FF71F3C0-9294-11E3-87080050569A5318
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 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. Read the full report here: http://arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org/files/dmfile/AEEIEconomicImpactofAdvancedEnergy-Final.pdf
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