CLICK HERE FOR NEWS COVERAGE OF THE CONFERENCE
CLICK HERE FOR THE 2009 CONFERENCE NOTEBOOK AND TO DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES FROM THE 2009 CLEAN ENERGY CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE
CLICK HERE FOR THE AMHERST COMMUNITY TELEVISION BROADCAST OF CLEAN ENERGY CONNECTIONS 2009
Second Annual Conference Highlights the Economic Potential of Green Business!
More than 400 people attended the Second Annual Clean Energy Connections Conference and Opportunity Fair in Springfield on Nov. 10. The conference included panel sessions on green career and business development opportunities in clean energy, with particular emphasis on the skyrocketing demand for building energy efficiency services.
Among the Clean Energy Connections speakers and exhibitors, we had educators, financiers, business leaders and owners, community leaders, and public officials; these individuals represent a wonderful cross section of the regional green economy.
In his plenary seminar, Professor Robert Pollin (Economics), outlined the economic opportunities of a green economy. “For the same amount of money we would spend on our existing fossil fuel infrastructure, we can build a clean energy economy and create three times more jobs nationally. Transformation to a clean energy economy has the potential to become a significant long-term engine of job creation,” he said.
Professor Pollin, along with other economists, business owners, and investors nationwide, have shown that clean energy is shaping up to be a critical driver of business development, job creation and sustainable economic growth. In particular, energy efficiency work is booming here in western Massachusetts.
Last year’s first annual Clean Energy Connections conference was a bit of an experiment and folks didn’t know what to expect. This year it was affirmed that what we’ve organized is truly unique; it’s much more than a job fair. Many connections were made at the conference– between businesses, between students and colleges, and between businesses and future employees.
The event featured 37 speakers and more than 70 exhibitors, including: UMass Amherst departments and programs; clean energy and environmental services companies, including the campus spin-out company Qteros; non-profit community groups; community colleges; and business development agencies such as the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts and Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, who hosted the event’s “Opportunity Fair” exhibit hall.
The conference also featured the debut of the new UMass Green portal. Please visit www.umass.edu/green for information about all things "green" on campus.
2009 Clean Energy Connections Conference Pictures
Springfield Mayor, Domenic J. Sarno, welcomes all in attendence.
Keynote Speaker, Robert Pollin, Phd., UMass Amherst Political Economy Research Institute
Keynote Speaker, Truman Semans of Green Order
Audience listening to the Keynote speeches
Keynote Speakers answer questions from the audience
Patrick Quinlan, UMass Wind Energy Center, at the Panel Session, Preparing for a Clean Energy Career
Chris Hoch, National Fiber, during the Panel Session, Energy Efficiency as a Growth Sector
Panelists answer questions from the audience
Speakers from the PM Session, Growing the Green Economy in Your Community
2009 SPONSORS
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Media Sponsors
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Supporters
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Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield |
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Affiliates
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