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Dec. 1 and 2, 2011 Conference Will Explore Energy Priorities, Roadblocks & Opportunities

ST. LOUIS — The Electrical Connection will co-sponsor the fifth annual Midwest Energy Policy Conference in St. Louis, bringing together leaders in the field of energy to examine energy priorities, roadblocks and opportunities. The Dec. 1 and 2, 2011 conference is presented by a partnership of the Regulatory Environmental Group for Missouri (REGFORM), Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI) and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and will be held at the Millennium St. Louis, 200 South 4th Street in Downtown St. Louis. Jim Curran, executive vice president of the Electrical Connection, is on the MEI board and executive committee.

The conference will provide a comprehensive overview of federal, state and local energy priorities; legislative and regulatory activity; energy efficiency; national security; and new energy projects. "This year's conference is particularly important," said conference organizer Roger Walker of Armstrong Teasdale, and chairman of MEI, a Missouri energy think tank. “The economic downturn and failure to have a coherent state, regional or national energy policy has made it difficult to develop new energy projects. This event is a step forward to create the discussions necessary to move forward.”

According to Josh Campbell, MEI executive director, “this conference will look at energy policy, energy production, economics, and regulatory pressures that impact every feature of the energy landscape. A discussion of policy opportunities and needs is critical for the future of the Midwest and this conference will address it all.”

The conference will cover topics relevant to the pursuit of sound energy policy including, the growing importance of natural gas, cleaner fossil fuels, U. S. military response to energy priorities, updates on wind and solar technology, greenhouse gas laws and regulations, PACE (property assessed clean energy) in St. Louis, energy efficiency, and advanced energy storage.

Among this year's keynote speakers will be Dr. Mark S. Wrighton, chancellor, Washington University in St. Louis. He will speak on "An International and National Perspective on our Midwest Energy Future." William Brinkman, director, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, will give a keynote address on “The Challenge of Reducing CO2 Emissions.” It will also feature Dr. Rebecca Johnson, Assistant to the Commander at Fort Leonard Wood, discussing the emerging military response.

For the first time ever, the conference will offer an overview of energy research activities conducted at five major Midwest educational institutions: University of Missouri-Columbia, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Washington University in St. Louis.

For more information on the conference, visit http://www.moenergy.org/2009-12-21-20-50-11.html

The Electrical Connection, a partnership of IBEW Local One and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractor’s Association (NECA), trains the workforce for renewable energy and other high tech electrical installations at the Electrical Industry Training Center in St. Louis. More information can found at www.stlejatc.org.

The Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit association of public and private sector entities. MEI is about culture change in Missouri to reverse current trends of poor public support for energy innovation, technology and education. We believe that providing greater access to non-partisan, science-based information is critical to changing the culture and the mindset of citizens and decision makers. MEI works to enhance and improve the energy business climate in Missouri by coordinating energy activities across all sectors of the Missouri economy, being an honest broker of energy information, educating K-12, Tech Schools and Higher Education students on energy issues, informing elected officials at the state and federal level on Missouri energy opportunities and issues, and providing a rich environment for energy research and development activities in the state. MEI was formed in 2009 with the mission to develop interactive and collaborative public/private sector partnerships and to engage Missourians in energy education, science, technology, policy and activities.

In addition to Jim Curran, other MEI board members include Mark Wrighton, chancellor, Washington University; former Missouri Governor Bob Holden; former Congressman Kenny Hulshof; John Carney, chancellor, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Stan Bull, vice president for Missouri Research Institute; Roger Walker, chairman, Armstrong Teasdale and many other key leaders of Missouri’s energy stakeholders. For more information about MEI, visit: http://www.moenergy.org/