The 2011 Coachella Valley Energy Summit will be held on Thursday May 12, 2011 and will be a collaborative partnership between CVAG and CVEP. The Energy Summit will bring together local, regional, and national leaders in government, energy, and the private sector to explore and discuss how our region can advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, greenhouse gas reduction, and green job growth in the Coachella Valley and beyond. We expect attendance to include leaders in government, education, and the commercial sector who are working to advance energy and sustainability goals; entrepreneurs and investors considering business creation in the clean energy sector are also encouraged to attend. On Friday, May 13, CVEP will host a business development tour to highlight renewable energy and other clean technology opportunities in the Coachella Valley region. A major sponsorship commitment has already been made by Southern California Edison and other sponsors are being sought. Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. has committed as a keynote speaker.  

Cleantech opportunities in the valley

This week CVEP met with four different cleantech investment companies that have possible business ventures in the Coachella Valley.  Hopefully, in the weeks to come we will have exciting news to share about these business endeavors and the steps to becoming a part of the valley's growing cleantech industry.  The critical momentum in this Blueprint target cluster is beginning and we are enthusiastic for the opportunities! 

This month at the Renewable Energy Roundtable

This month's Renewable Energy Roundtable will include a longer session which will feature a morning workshop on the challenges of energy transmission.  This special meeting has been organized due to concern over the future of the cleantech sector in our valley and how it ultimately affects jobs and our local economy.  CVEP and Aspen Environmental Group are bringing together operational experts in transmission to present and discuss this topic.  Program speakers include individuals from Z Global, SCE, BLM, and the Riverside County Planning and Energy Commission.  If you have an interest in the cleantech sector or are a stake holder in this industry this is an event you don't want to miss! 

The workshop is scheduled for Thursday February 17^th from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the UCR, Palm Desert Graduate Center auditorium.  No rsvp required - we look forward to seeing you there!