Aspen AREDAY Summit Targets Advanced Energy Policies for Jobs and Economic Growth
In its ninth year, the AREDAY Summit (American Renewable Energy Day) is being held at the five-star St. Regis Aspen Resort, August 16 to 20. The Summit offers attendees, exhibitors and sponsors the opportunity to engage directly with global environmental and energy powerhouses to develop immediate actions that address climate change through renewable energy development.
A three-day Summit and Expo, this year's event continues the AREDAY trend of generating diverse cross-sector dialogue amongst leaders and influencers. A special pre-Summit luncheon event will take place on Thursday afternoon, August 16. Author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and Rocky Mountain Institute Founder Amory Lovins will initiate a discussion titled "Leading America's Energy Future: A National Conversation."
The Summit itself begins on Friday night with a keynote speech by Former Governor Bill Ritter on "The Role of Natural Gas in a Clean Energy Economy" and on Saturday, General Wesley Clark will launch the weekend with a keynote conversation on national security and renewable energy. He will be joined by Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn, President and CEO of ACORE, scientists Lester Brown and Amory Lovins, Jigar Shah, former CEO of the Carbon War Room and Kelly Rigg, CEO Global Campaign for Climate Action, among others.
"We think that 2012, as an election year, demands an unprecedented "call to action" for climate and clean energy solutions," AREDAY CEO, Chip Comins, said. "In addition, America's infrastructure is collapsing, yet this challenge provides tremendous opportunities to rebuild with clean energy and green jobs. We have the power to set up our great country to be an innovative leader in new global standards. When America leads, the world will follow."
General Wesley Clark believes clean energy is critical to U.S. security and economic progress. "$300 billion tax a year on net oil imports is like a tax on the American economy. This could employ eight million Americans right up front making more than the average wage in Arkansas where I live," stated General Wesley Clark at the 2011 Summit.
Actresses Mariel Hemingway and Daryl Hannah will join award-winning producer Jamie Redford. The entertainment sector at the Summit plays a vital role in communicating opportunities and solutions regarding scientific, policy and economic growth opportunities to the general public. AREDAY organizers believe that public awareness is essential to understanding the critical timing of issues, as well as the huge potential for positive change in health concerns, jobs and national security.
The summit will incorporate a host of dynamic films for the AREDAY Environmental Film Fest with James Redford showcasing his new movie Watershed narrated by Robert Redford. Saturday night will feature the annual AREDAY Gala, fundraising this year for the Climb for Conservation expedition up Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The annual AREDAY Expo will feature local, state and national businesses, utilities, and other organizations that incorporate renewable energy technologies and promote cutting-edge energy efficient and green practices, products and services. The Expo, held on the Mill Street Mall in downtown Aspen, will feature a free Sunday afternoon performance by the iconic, Grammy award-winning Taj Mahal.
The intimate Aspen setting provides the perfect backdrop for global thought leaders to debate and dialogue over potential solutions and roadmaps to a clean energy future, with attendees invited to engage in the conversation with these formidable influencers.
For a complete list of speakers: http://areday.net/areday_2012.html
ABOUT AREDAY
AREDAY is now a project of the newly formed not-for-profit, American Renewable Energy Institute, Inc. (AREI). The development of the Institute moves the AREDAY Summit beyond a yearly conference to showcase innovative solutions and visions and continue the active interchanges developed at the Summits. Since 2004, American Renewable Energy Day (AREDAY) has been bringing top leaders and educators together to promote the rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency strategies via demonstrations, presentations, performances, film screenings and dialogue. Each year, AREDAY has hosted nationally and internationally renowned speakers and attracted attendees from across the globe - resulting in unique, powerful cross-sector collaborations and actions around the climate change issue. For more information, visit www.areday.net.