Businesses interested in finding ways to better control their energy costs by taking advantage of 21st century energy opportunities will hear from corporate leaders whose companies are leading the way when the Michigan Energy Conference convenes in downtown Detroit Tuesday, February 2.  The third annual conference is being held at the historic Book Cadillac Hotel with registration open through January 29.

“Advanced energy procurement and direct energy management, coupled with the improving economics of renewable energy, are becoming core elements in corporate business plans,” said Liesl Eichler Clark, president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (MI-EIBC), a conference organizer.  “Many leading multi-national companies have set goals to get 100 percent of their power from renewable energy sources, and an increasing number of Fortune 500 companies including General Motors, have signed on to the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers Principles, aimed at securing better access to renewable energy from utility electric providers.

“The interest in low-carbon advanced energy is not limited to large corporations and financial institutions,” Clark added.  “A growing number of smaller companies are also seeking advanced energy resources to meet their business objectives all of which we will explore at the conference.”

Adam Kramer, an executive vice president for Switch, the company developing a $5 billion data center that will operate on renewable energy in West Michigan, is the conference keynote speaker.

Other program participants include a number with strong Michigan ties, including:

• Nancy Popa, executive director of renewable energy, Consumers Energy
• Rob Threlkeld, global manager for renewable energy, General Motors
• Greg Wing, director of environmental health and safety, Herman Miller
• Ron Voglewede, global sustainability director, Whirlpool
• Rod Williamson, global energy category manager, Dow Corning
• Greg White, executive director of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners and a former member of the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Featured panel topics will include:

• Corporate Access to Advanced Energy:  The Growth of Market Demand for Clean Energy Solutions;
• Considerations in Building and Managing Clean Energy Portfolios;
• Barriers to Acquiring Clean Energy Resources; and
• Creating the Future: Market Innovations in Corporate Energy Purchases.

In addition to the MI-EIBC, this year’s conference organizers include Advanced Energy Economy, Ceres, the University of Michigan Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, the World Resources Institute, and 5 Lakes Energy.  Advanced Energy Economy is also a conference sponsor along with Geronimo Energy, Invenergy, the Varnum law firm and W.W. Williams.
For more information visit: www.mienergyfuture.com

Contact:  Liz Boyd
Telephone:  517.881.6713