The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) today announced the speakers for its national policy conference entitled, "Renewable Energy in America: Phase II Market Forecasts and Policy Requirements" being held on November 29-30, 2006 in Washington, DC.

The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) announced today the speakers for its national policy conference entitled, "Renewable Energy in America: Phase II Market Forecasts and Policy Requirements" being held on November 29-30, 2006 in Washington, DC.

Keynote speakers include many from the journalistic, manufacturer, supplier and utility sectors and Administration officials.

The opening keynote will be delivered by Thomas Friedman, journalist, columnist, author and three-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize from the New York Times. Mr. Friedman has become a leading spokesman for change in US energy policy, coining the phrase: "Green is the new Red, White and Blue."

Additional keynote speakers include Vivian Cox, BP's Managing Director for Renewables, Alternatives, Gas and Power, who will give BP's outlook on the future contribution of renewable energy to world energy supplies. Ms. Cox is one of the top five Managing Directors of BP, reporting to Group Chief Executive John Browne.

Richard Kelly, Chairman and CEO of Xcel Energy, a Midwestern electric and gas utility company, will present Xcel's plans for renewable energy. Xcel is already the largest purchaser of wind power in the US, and has plans to increase its commitments substantially.

Administration officials, including the Honorable Samuel Bodman, Secretary of Energy and the Honorable Hank Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, have been invited to speak.

The 2006 Phase II conference is highly focused on addressing one of the key questions on the table this year: "How much can renewable energy contribute to the nation's energy supply, and by when?"

Phase II is the first platform ever assembled to present all of the forecasts, outlooks and upside proposals in one place, in one day. It has never been done before. Presenting organizations come from government, associations and the nonprofit community.

A session on government and institutional outlook will be chaired by Pat Wood, former Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Speakers will include Alexander Karsner, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Dan Arvizu, Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Christian Larsen, Vice President, Generation, EPRI; and Pam Inmann, Executive Director, Western Governor's Association.

An industry outlook session will be chaired by Dan Reicher, President, New Energy Capital, and former Assistant Secretary of Energy. Speakers will be Dan Kammen, Professor, University of California at Berkeley; Rob Gramlich, Policy Director, American Wind Energy Association; Rhone Resch, President, Solar Energy Industries Association; Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director, National Hydropower Association; Richard Meyer, President, Ocean Energy Council; and Bill Holmberg, Chairman, Biomass Coordinating Council.

A session on upside potential will be chaired by Roger Ballentine, President, Green Strategies, Inc. Speakers will include Chris Flavin, President, Worldwatch Institute; Hermann Scheer, German Bundestag; Jerome Ringo, Chairman, Apollo Alliance; Steve Clemmer, Research Director, Clean Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists; Chuck Kutscher, NREL, representing a special futures assessment by the American Solar Energy Society; and Reid Detchon, Executive Director, Energy Future Coalition, speaking for the 25x25 coalition.

The final closing session, chaired by Hank Habicht, Managing Director of Sail Ventures, will feature Phil Sharp, President of Resources for the Future, speaking on the common threads that run through the many outlooks, scenarios and forecasts of renewable energy's future in the US.

For further details about the forum and registration, and for information about previous years' conferences, please visit: www.acore.org.

Information on sponsorship opportunities is available from Tom Weirich at
202-393-0001 x7582 or email weirich@acore.org.

Supporting organizations for Phase II: Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, American Planning Association, American Public Power Association, American Wind Energy Association, Association of Energy Engineers, Biomass Coordinating Council, California Clean Energy Fund, Center for American Progress, Center for Resource Solutions, Clean Energy Group, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Community Environmental Council, Consumer Energy Council of America, Electric Power Research Institute, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Environmental Markets Association, Geothermal Energy Association, Global Energy Network Institute, Global Green, Interfaith Environmental Council, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, National Association of State Energy Officials, National Corn Growers Association, National Hydrogen Association, National Hydropower Association, National Rural Electric Co-op Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership, Solar Electric Power Association, Solar Electric Industries Association, Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association, The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life of Southern California, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Resources Institute, and Worldwatch Institute.

About ACORE

ACORE, a 501(c)(3) membership nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to bringing renewable energy into the mainstream of the US economy and lifestyle through information and communications programs. ACORE provides a common platform for the wide range of interests in the renewable energy community including renewable energy industries, associations, utilities, end users, professional service firms, financial institutions and government agencies. ACORE serves as a forum through which these parties work together on common interests. Membership information is available at: www.acore.org.