The Maryland Clean Energy Center regrets to announce the Clean Energy Summit 2011 – including the Clean Energy Consumer Show – will not take place Aug. 25-27 as planned. The Marriott North Bethesda Hotel & Conference Center is unable to host the Summit as scheduled due to structural damage incurred during the earthquake that impacted the greater Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area this week.
The Maryland Clean Energy Center's leadership is currently evaluating options to reschedule the event and will announce updates as they are available.

Maryland Clean Energy Summit to Focus on Job Creation...see above

ROCKVILLE (Aug. 25, 2011) – More than 300 thought leaders from the public and private sectors will gather Friday at the second annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit to identify ways the state can leverage its ascending position in the clean energy space to reshape its economic landscape and generate a wealth of good-paying jobs. The event will be held at the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Maryland Clean Energy Summit 2011 will enable business executives, elected officials and academics to spur continued industry growth through complementary legislative policies and educational programs. Hosted by the Maryland Clean Energy Center, the event will convene executives of Fortune 500 companies and innovative startup businesses, as well as academic experts and several of the state’s most prominent elected officials.

“As we continue to grapple with the nation’s ‘jobless recovery,’ it is imperative that we draw upon our state’s considerable resources to position Maryland for a brighter economic future,” said Maryland Clean Energy Center Executive Director I. Katherine Magruder. “The Maryland Clean Energy Summit 2011 is a unique opportunity to assemble innovators, educators and policymakers to ensure we support a business sector that is poised for tremendous expansion.”

“Our energy future requires a new focus on energy efficiency and deployment of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin.  “Maryland will continue to be a national leader in developing alternative energy technologies that will help America build a sustainable, low-carbon economy that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, keep our air and water safe, and create new jobs for the future.”

Consistent with the Summit’s theme – “Investing in Energy to Generate Jobs” – sessions will include discussions on how to eliminate barriers to project financing, what specific jobs are most likely to be created through an investment in clean energy, and how increasing market demand is driving technological innovation and advancement. Expert panels will be dedicated to every form of renewable energy – solar, wind, geothermal and biomass – and will define the economic benefits of these alternative energy sources’ increasing adoption.

A special luncheon from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. will feature an awards ceremony recognizing leaders in advancing the clean energy and energy efficiency sectors in Maryland. The complete Summit agenda is available here.

For the first time, the Summit will include a dedicated consumer show on Saturday Aug. 27. The Maryland Clean Energy Consumer Show, also being held at the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center, will feature a wide range of interactive exhibits open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Among the attractions is the opportunity to test drive a Chevrolet Volt.

The mission of the Maryland Clean Energy Center is to promote clean energy economic development and jobs by educating consumers, assisting businesses and advising policymakers. More information is available at www.mdcleanenergy.org.