4th Annual NC Sustainable Energy Conference, today and tomorrow!

The State Energy Office, which is seemingly always on the budget chopping block, is hosting the 4th Annual Sustainable Energy Conference in Raleigh today and tomorrow in Raleigh(Click here for more details). Featured speaker is Tom Daschle!

Below is the agenda. I hope some of y'all can attend!

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Energy, Environment, and Economy
North Carolina’s future depends on the decisions we make today on these important issues. Attend the fourth annual North Carolina Sustainable Energy Conference to learn how the three are connected and what you can do to ensure a sustainable future for our state.

Agenda
DAY ONE—March 7, 2007
UTILITY SAVINGS INITIATIVE HALF-DAY SESSIONS

12:30-1:00 p.m. Registration

1:00-1:15 p.m. Welcome

1:15-1:25 p.m. Utility Savings Initiative Updates

1:25-1:45 p.m. Utility Savings Initiative Awards

1:45-3:15 p.m. SESSION ONE

ENERGY STAR® Tools and Resources
This session will update attendees on how states can employ ENERGY STAR® tools for their clean energy and green building programs. Case studies from New Mexico and Ohio of an integrated ENERGY STAR® strategy at the state level will be presented.

Session Moderator:
Len Hoey, State Energy Office, N.C. Department of Administration
Speakers/Presenters:
Julio Rovi, Cadmus Group, Inc.
3:30-5:00 p.m. SESSION TWO

Performance Contracting: The “In’s” and “Out’s” of RFP Preparation
Participants will learn how to craft a request for proposals for a performance contract project that adequately expresses expectations but also will allow responders to be innovative in their solutions.

Session Moderator:
Don Gilligan, Predicate, LLC, and National Association of Energy Service Companies
Speakers/Panelists:
Frank Shepard, Siemens Buildings Technologies
Jim Lora, N.C. Office of State Budget and Management
Tim Romocki, N.C. Department of the State Treasurer
5:30-6:00 p.m. Reception Registration

6:00-6:15 p.m. Welcoming Remarks and Introduction

6:15-6:45 p.m. Reception Keynote Address

Lt. Governor Beverly Purdue

6:45-7:15 p.m. North Carolina Sustainable Energy Legacy Awards

Honoring:
Senator Hamilton Horton, former senator, N.C. District 31, and former N.C. Energy Policy Council member
Ralph Goodwin, former director, Electric Vehicle Challenge

7:15-7:30 p.m. Closing remarks

Larry Shirley, State Energy Office, N.C. Department of Administration

DAY TWO— March 8, 2007
FULL CONFERENCE PLENARY AND SESSIONS

8:00-8:30 a.m. Registration, Breakfast Buffet, and Exhibits

8:30-8:45 a.m. Welcoming Remarks and Introduction

8:45-9:15 a.m. Keynote Address

Senator Tom Daschle, Special Policy Advisor, Alston & Bird, LLP, and Former Majority Leader, U.S. Senate
9:15-10:00 a.m. GENERAL SESSION: Linking Energy, Environment, and Economy

Larry Shirley, State Energy Office, N.C. Department of Administration
Secretary E. Norris Tolson, N.C. Department of Revenue
Tim Toben, Greenbridge Developments, LLC

10:00-10:30 a.m. Exhibits, Demonstrations, and “Ride and Drive”

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSION ONE

Track A: Energy: Growing the New Green Energy Resources
North Carolina is known as the “Saudi Arabia of biomass,” with a portfolio of renewable energy resources that is unparalleled in the South. Learn about the potential for renewable energy generation in North Carolina and the environmental drivers associated with these technologies. Both utility and environmental viewpoints will be explored.

Session Moderator:
Steve Kalland, N.C. Solar Center
Speakers/Panelists:
Michael Shore, Environmental Defense
Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi, N.C. A&T State University
John Baker, Austin Energy

Track B: Environment: Quantifying the Health Effects of Energy Efficiency
What are the economic consequences of dirty air—from lost worker productivity to increased health care costs—as well as the opportunities to mitigate the problem? Attend this session to learn how to quantify the consequences of reducing energy consumption.

Session Moderator:
Dr. Ed Cox, N.C. Sustainable Energy Association
Speakers/Panelists:
Denise Mulholland, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Dr. Jeffrey Engel, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. William Clayton Ballantine, Mission Hospitals, Asheville, N.C.

Track C: Economy: New Jobs and New Opportunities in the Three “E’s” (Energy/ Environment/Economy)
Making energy efficiency and renewables play a larger role in North Carolina means new jobs and business opportunities. This session explores the business case for investment in sustainable energy in our state. Participants will learn about specific economic considerations impacting development of renewable energy technologies in North Carolina and hear individual case studies describing current corporate decisions.

Session Moderator:
Bob Kingery, Southern Energy Management
Speakers/Panelists:
Don Gilligan, Predicate, LLC, and National Association of Energy Service Companies
Tom Henkel, Solargenix Energy
Marvin Burchfield, Decker Energy
Edward May, U.S. Renewables Group

Track D: Commissioning: Assuring Owners’ Performance Expectations Are Met in New Buildings
Participates will learn what commissioning is and why it is needed in the design, construction and acceptance phases of today’s complex buildings. Commissioning case studies by owners and commissioning professionals will be offered that cover how the commissioning process is implemented. The session will be concluded with a panel discussion of commissioning by engineering professionals.

Session Moderator:
Rod Rabold, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Speakers/Panelists:
Steve Szymczyk, N.C. State University
Ralph Taylor, State Construction Office

12:00-12:45 p.m. LUNCHEON

12:45-12:50 p.m. Welcoming Remarks and Introduction

12:50-1:10 p.m. Luncheon Keynote Address

Kathleen Hogan, Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1:10-1:30 p.m. Fourth Annual Sustainable Energy Awards

1:30-2:00 p.m. Exhibits, Demonstrations, and “Ride and Drive”

2:00-3:30 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSION TWO

Track A: Energy: Energy Policy Issues in North Carolina
North Carolina has the potential to reduce its energy use through committed efforts to promote and implement energy efficiency measures. This session will provide updates on why this is important to North Carolina and how new proposed legislation can codify these efforts.

Session Moderator:
Howard Stanley, Corning, Inc., and N.C. Energy Policy Council
Speakers/Presenters:
Jeff Tiller, Appalachian State University Energy Center
Sam Watson, N.C. Utilities Commission
Dr. Dennis Grady, Appalachian State University Energy Center
Ivan Urlaub, N.C. Sustainable Energy Association
Sharon Stroud, State Energy Office, N.C. Department of Administration

Track B: Environment: Climate Change Solutions for North Carolina
The debate over climate change has come home to North Carolina. Panelists will discuss current activities in the state that address greenhouse gas emissions, including the role of alternative fuels, renewable energy, and energy efficiency in mitigating these emissions.

Session Moderator:
Michael Shore, Environmental Defense
Speakers/Presenters:
Brock Nicholson, N.C. Division of Air Quality
Sue Gander, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Track C: Economy: Biofueling the Future
There are currently 12 E85 and 16 B20 stations in North Carolina offering motorists ethanol and biodiesel fuels. With a recent surge in funding opportunities, however, those numbers are expected to double soon. What are the types of financing available to developers and owners of biofueling facilities that will move them from the investigative stage to full-fledged operation? Join this track for an in-depth discussion on the potential and challenges for biofuels in North Carolina.

Session Moderator:
Mitch Peele, N.C. Farm Bureau
Speakers/Presenters:
Jack Blackmer, Novozymes North America, Inc.
Billy Ray Hall, N.C. Rural Economic Development Center
Kurt Creamer, N.C. Solar Center
Terry Ruse, Agri-Ethanol, LLC
Steven Burke, N.C. Biotechnology Center

Track D: Retro-commissioning: Achieving Designed System Performance in Existing Buildings
Participants will learn about the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent study on retro-commissioning and the documented energy savings that can be attained. Participants also will gain knowledge of the process used to commission existing buildings through case studies, with examples of the benefits of retro-commissioning. This session will be concluded by a panel discussion on retro-commissioning by engineering and commissioning professionals.

Session Moderator:
Rod Rabold, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Speakers/Panelists:
Steve Szymczyk, N.C. State University
Ralph Taylor, State Construction Office

3:30-4:00 p.m. Closing Session

Registration is $109.

Registration includes:

Utility Savings Initiative half-day workshops - March 7
Evening reception - March 7
Full-day plenary and workshops - March 8
Networking lunch - March 8
Awards ceremony honoring this year’s Energy Champions in North Carolina - March 8
Exhibits featuring the latest information and technology in energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative fuels, and green building - March 8
“Ride and Drive,” a popular event featuring the newest alternative fuel vehicles - March 8