NEEP to celebrate anniversary with major efficiency summit and awards gala
To mark its 10th anniversary and recognize both the past and the future of energy efficiency, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) will host a major event this May in Boston that is certain to draw some of the most influential names in energy policy.
The 2006 Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit: Best Practices for Reliability, Affordability and Sustainability will be held Wednesday, May 17 at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel in Boston. This day and evening event will combine a full-day conference featuring in-depth discussion on the value of and best practices in energy efficiency with an evening awards gala recognizing the efforts of those who have made energy efficiency a hallmark of the Northeast.
In addition, the event will feature an exhibition of leading-edge energy efficiency products and services for the residential, commercial, industrial and government sectors. It will also include a business leaders recognition program that will honor NEEP’s sponsors and their customers in the Northeast who exemplify “best practices for energy efficiency.” Recipients will participate in a multi media presentation shown throughout the conference.
The 2006 Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit is co-chaired by NEEP’s President, Ashok Gupta of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and NEEP’s Vice-President, Penni McLean-Conner of NSTAR Electric and Gas.
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has been invited to provide the keynote address, while New York Governor George Pataki has been invited to accept the NEEP 10th Anniversary Energy Efficiency Award for Leadership in Policy and Government.
Confirmed speakers for the conference program include:
- Kurt Adams, Chairman, Maine Public Utility Commission
- Kathleen Hogan, Director, Climate Protection Division, US Environmental Protection Agency
- James W. Hunt, Chief, Department of Energy and Environment, City of Boston
- Cheryl LaFleur, President, New England Distribution, National Grid
- Anthony Marone, Associate Vice President, Client Services, United Illuminating Company
- Richard Mattila, Director of Environmental Affairs, Genzyme Corporation
- Steve Nadel, Executive Director, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
- Robert Ruddock, Executive Vice President for Government Affairs for Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)
- Beth Sachs, Executive Director, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC)
- Rick Sergel, President and CEO of the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC)
- Denise Sheehan, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The program will feature a morning panel, moderated by Maine PUC Chairman Kurt Adams, which will examine “The Value of Increased Energy Efficiency in the Northeast” from three perspectives: Power System Reliability, provided by Rick Sergel; Global Warming and Environmental Sustainability, provided by Denise Sheehan; and Energy Price and Affordability, provided by Robert Ruddock.
Following the luncheon speakers’ presentation, an afternoon panel moderated by
Beth Sachs, Executive Director of VEIC, will examine “Best Practices for Energy Efficiency for Business, Consumers and Government – What You Can Do!” A select group of business leaders, practitioners and policy leaders will provide insight from the perspectives of the Best Practices in Business; Best Practices to Address Consumer Low-Income, Residential and Small Business Consumer Markets; and Best Practices in Local and State Government Energy Management.
Steve Nadel, executive director of the ACEEE, and National Grid’s Cheryl LaFleur will conclude the conference portion of the day’s events by speaking on “Energy Efficiency Futures – What’s Next?”
Following the conference, a gala Awards Dinner will celebrate outstanding acts of energy efficiency leadership. Susan Tierney, managing principal of the Analysis Group and former Assistant Secretary for Policy in the U.S. Department of Energy, will lead the program to honor:
- Leadership in Policy and Government: George E. Pataki, Governor of New York (invited)
- Leadership in Solutions for Low Income and Affordable Housing: Bart Harvey, President, The Enterprise Foundation
- Leadership to Advance Energy Efficiency to Protect the Environment: John Adams, President (retired), Natural Resources Defense Council, who will in turn recognize other leaders of energy efficiency advocacy in the Northeast, including Environment Northeast, Public Interest Research Group, the Regulatory Assistance Project, Conservation Law Foundation, Pace Energy Project and the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council.
Participation in the 2006 Energy Efficiency Summit is available in a variety of ways.
Participants may attend the conference, the awards dinner only, or both. Dinner tables of eight are also available for the awards gala. Exhibitors may purchase booth or table-top space, while conference sponsorships are available on a number of different levels.
Early bird conference registration is in effect until April 14, 2006.
For more information, or to register online, visit: www.neep.org/summit or contact NEEP’s Lori Segall at 781-860-9177, ext. 13 or by e-mail at lsegall@neep.org.
