| Sept. 11, 2008 The South
Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) will co-host “The Future is
Green,” a conference and expo showcasing new and emerging clean air
technologies, Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 14-16, at the Long Beach
Convention & Entertainment Center.
The three-day event, hosted by the California Air Pollution Control
Officers Association (CAPCOA) and co-hosted by several air quality districts
throughout California, will include dozens of exhibitors, workshops about
environmental issues and several notable speakers, including founder and
chair of BP Capital Management, T. Boone Pickens.
“Each step we take towards exploring new clean air technologies,
including sharing our knowledge with each other, brings us closer to
ensuring healthier air for our future,” said William A. Burke, Ed.D., chair
of AQMD’s Governing Board. “AQMD is excited and honored to join CAPCOA and
our fellow air quality districts for this significant event.”
The opening day, Sunday, will be free and open to the public, featuring
nearly 100 exhibitors and 40 vehicle displays from noon to 5:30 p.m. New
technologies such as clean fuel and vehicle innovations, green building and
energy efficiency, and green agricultural equipment and operations will be
showcased. Exhibitors will include major automobile manufacturers, The Walt
Disney Company, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, environmental
groups and others.
In addition, Sunday’s events will include a full-day workshop for
entrepreneurs, presented in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business
Administration, about developing green technology businesses. A free
half-day workshop about global warming, renewable energy and environmental
protection will also be presented for teachers.
Sunday’s entrepreneur workshop and the following two days will be open to
registered participants only, and will begin with an opening plenary session
featuring Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Chair of the California Air Resources
Board Mary Nichols, a video from Sen. Barbara Boxer and others. Monday’s
luncheon keynote presented by T. Boone Pickens will be followed by a Q-and-A
session.
Throughout Monday and Tuesday, the 10 expert panels will include more
than 60 business and community leaders focusing on topics such as renewable
power, green consumer products and clean fuel technologies. A special
educational component will allow hundreds of high school students focused on
science to attend workshops about global warming and green solutions.
“ ‘The Future is Green’ is an exciting collaborative effort that is
bringing together expert knowledge across a wide range of technology areas,”
said Barbara Lee, CAPCOA president and executive officer of the Northern
Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District. “It’s a wonderful opportunity
for people in many walks of life to tap into tremendous knowledge and
expertise that will remake our world.”
Those in attendance will include business leaders, elected officials,
technology companies, environmental organizations, planning officials,
architects, agricultural operators, venture capital investors, teachers,
students, as well as members of the general public interested in learning
about emerging environmental practices and technologies.
“The Future is Green” convenes at an opportune time as government,
businesses and the public are increasingly concerned about global warming
and petroleum dependency. With the 2006 passage of AB 32, California’s
Global Warming Solutions Act, followed by Gov. Schwarzenegger’s 2007
executive order establishing a low-carbon fuel standard, California has
taken a strong leadership role in combating climate change. More information
on the conference and registration details are available at
www.capcoagreen.com.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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