The Fifth Annual Midwest Energy Policy Conference will bring together leaders in the fields of energy and energy policy for a comprehensive examination of federal, state and local energy priorities; legislative and regulatory activity; energy efficiency; national security; and new energy projects. The conference will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, December 1-2, 2011, at the Millennium Hotel St. Louis, 200 South 4th Street.
For the first time, the conference will offer an overview of energy research activities conducted at five major Midwest educational institutions: University of Missouri-Columbia, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Washington University in St. Louis.
"This year's conference is particularly important," said Roger Walker, Armstrong Teasdale of counsel and chairman of MEI, a Missouri energy think tank. “The economic downturn and failure to have a coherent state, regional or national energy policy has made it difficult to develop new energy projects. This event is a step forward to create the discussions necessary to move forward.”
Josh Campbell, MEI Executive Director, explains, “This conference will look at energy policy, energy production, economics, and regulatory pressures that impact every feature of the energy landscape. A discussion of policy opportunities and needs is critical for mid-westerners. We’ll have that discussion at this conference. "
The conference will cover topics relevant to the pursuit of sound energy policy including the growing importance of natural gas, cleaner fossil fuels, U. S. military response to energy priorities, updates on wind and solar technology, greenhouse gas laws and regulations, PACE (property assessed clean energy) in St. Louis, energy efficiency, and advanced energy storage.
Among this year's keynote speakers will be Dr. Mark S. Wrighton, Chancellor, Washington University in St. Louis. He will speak on "An International and National Perspective on our Midwest Energy Future." William Brinkman, Director, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, will give a keynote address on “The Challenge of Reducing CO2 Emissions.” We will also hear from Dr. Rebecca Johnson, Assistant to the Commander at Fort Leonard Wood, to discuss the emerging military response.
George von Stamwitz, Armstrong Teasdale partner, will speak on emerging “Eco-Energy Parks.”
The conference is being organized in collaboration with the following partners: The Regulatory Environmental Group for Missouri (REGFORM), Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI) and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
About MEI
The Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit association of public and private sector entities. MEI is about culture change in Missouri to reverse current trends of poor public support for energy innovation, technology and education. We believe that providing greater access to non-partisan, science-based information is critical to changing the culture and the mindset of citizens and decision makers. MEI works to enhance and improve the energy business climate in Missouri by coordinating energy activities across all sectors of the Missouri economy, being an honest broker of energy information, educating K-12, Tech Schools and Higher Education students on energy issues, informing elected officials at the state and federal level on Missouri energy opportunities and issues, and providing a rich environment for energy research and development activities in the state. MEI was formed in 2009 with the mission to develop interactive and collaborative public/private sector partnerships and to engage Missourians in energy education, science, technology, policy and activities.
Included on the MEI Board of Directors is Mark Wrighton, Chancellor, Washington University; former Missouri Governor Bob Holden; former Congressman Kenny Hulshof; John Carney, Chancellor, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Stan Bull, Vice President for Missouri Research Institute and many other key leaders of Missouri’s energy stakeholders. Armstrong Teasdale’s
Roger Walker serves as chairman of the board.