CleanTech Events in 2009: first overview of upcoming conferences

New Energy Finance Summit, March 4-6th, 2009

Among Obama’s top environmental advisers, Howard Learner has been with President-elect the longest. Currently executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, Learner linked up with Obama in the early 1990s and was the Senior Environmental and Energy policy adviser for the 2008 Obama campaign. He now serves as an advisor to President-elect’s transition effort.

Learner will be just one of over forty speakers at the New Energy Finance Summit and Awards, an invitation-only conference and black tie gala dinner that takes place on March 4-6, 2009 in London.

In an advance of that appearance, New Energy Finance caught up with Learner via phone on 18 December.

With subsidies for clean energy under pressure even Spain and Germany, and fears that an international economic downturn will impede the quest for successor to Kyoto, the clean energy sector clearly has its sights trained on Washington. Expectations are that the new president’s policies will spark US market demand enough to pick up the slack created elsewhere. But are these hopes realistic?

“Is there likely to be a major initiative here in terms of clean energy development? Very much yes,” says Learner. “Is everyone going to be happy with the ultimate decisions? Of course not.”

The transition team has been highly solicitous in seeking input from the US clean energy sector in recent. The outreach has gone beyond the usual suspects — trade and lobbying groups in Washington – directly to major investors and equipment manufacturers. Learner said the suggestions have been greatly appreciated and many potential policies are now on the table.

In the end, a relatively small number of advisors will determine what will, and what will not, end up in the much anticipated economic stimulus package Obama is expected to unveil in January. However, Learner’s group has publicly endorsed modifications to the Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit to make them more effective during an economic downturn. Then there is the question of a cap-and-trade programme. Conventional wisdom holds that Congress will not tackle the issue until at least summer 2009 and that current economic conditions will make passing legislation a real challenge. Obama surprised some by reiterating his commitment to the issue in recent weeks and Learner said capping carbon remains high on the incoming administration’s agenda.

“Whether its 2009 or 2010, I don’t want to get into an argument but I think it’s going to move forward and it’s a priority,” he said.

Join Howard Learner and other select senior industry, policy and finance leaders at the New Energy Finance Summit and Awards Dinner, an invitation-only conference and black tie gala dinner that takes place on March 4-6, 2009 in London.

The New Energy Finance Summit will explore how different players, geographies and sectors are mobilising to meet the challenges of a capital-constrained and turbulent economy. We will be discussing how clean energy solution providers at various stages of development are changing their business models to react to market conditions; how incumbent energy players in oil, gas, coal and nuclear are responding; and how policy-makers are working to shape the competitive environment for the coming decades.

Those who attended the inaugural New Energy Finance Summit last year know that this is not your average conference. It is designed around interaction: you’ll meet and debate the industry’s critical emerging issues with your peers: the leaders who are shaping policy, leading technology and making investment decisions. Last year’s event was very well received – Lord Browne called it the ‘New Davos’.

Confirmed thought leaders represent the following organizations:

* Industry: Anglo-American, Centrica PLC, Petrobras Biofuels, Scatec, Virent, Rio Tinto, GridPoint, Acciona Energy, E.On Climate and Renewables, Schlumberger Carbon Services

* Policy, Government & NGO UNFCCC, Crown Estate, Danish Energy Agency, UN Global Environment Facility, ACORE, Environmental Law & Policy Center, REN21, EU Energy Commission, UN Secretary-General Climate Change, IEA Renewable Energy Unit

* Finance: Hudson Clean Energy Partners, Good Energies, Peking University Environment Fund, Global Environment Fund, Riverside

* Academia & Think Tanks: Technical University of Denmark, California Institute of Technology, Brookings Institution

On the award dinner: The New Energy Finance Gala Awards Dinner will take place on 5 March 2009. It will be a black tie event for up to 400 participants, at which the industry’s leading awards, the New Energy Finance Awards, will be distributed for the fourth year (for the avoidance of confusion, we would point out that New Energy Finance is in no way associated with the “New Energy Awards 2009” which is taking place on 25 February 2009). If you are planning to attend just one awards dinner for excellence in clean energy, we look forward to seeing you at the New Energy Finance Awards Dinner on 5th March. To book your place, email us now on summit@newenergyfinance.com.

Registration: Only 200 registrations are available for the Summit. Invitations are granted at the discretion of the Summit team based on a broad set of criteria aimed at ensuring a rich and stimulating exchange of ideas among a diverse group of industry leaders and peers. To apply for an invitation allowing you to purchase a ticket click here.

Sponsorship: There are also selected partnership opportunities still available. If you are looking to raise your profile amongst key decision makers in clean energy and the carbon markets, please contact summit@newenergyfinance.com

We are look forward to seeing you at the industry’s premier thought leadership event

http://www.newenergyfinancesummit.com

I missed the event too busy building Eco homes in the UK! I hope to make the next Clean Techies’ symposium