Washington, DC -   Energy Secretary Steven Chu will join Vice President Joe Biden and The Middle Class Task Force for its first official meeting on FRIDAY February 27th at 12:30 PM EDT at the William B. Irvine Auditorium on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia.  The focus of this meeting is on green jobs as a pathway to a strong middle class.

Vice President Biden and Secretary Chu will be joined by several cabinet members and members of the Task Force, including:

*           Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood;
*           Secretary of Education Arne Duncan;
*           Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack;
*           Secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan;
*           Department of Labor Secretary-designate Hilda Solis;
*           Director of White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes;
and
*           Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner

The Task Force will hear presentations from experts on the potential to create green jobs as a part of economic recovery and on how to connect people to training and opportunities in the green economy. The task force will then hold an interactive discussion with questions and answers on the information presented.

Earlier this month, Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy is restructuring the dispersal of direct loans, loan guarantees and other funding.  Secretary Chu is committed to moving the investments in President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act forward as quickly as possible so that we can create new jobs and end out dependence on foreign oil.

Also joining the discussion will be Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation, including Senator Arlen Specter; Senator Bob Casey; Representative Chaka Fattah; and Representative Robert Brady.

Meeting Details:

Panel One:  Green Jobs: What Are They And How Can They Help The Middle Class?

Panelists:

*        John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for American Progress
*        Van Jones, President and founder of Green for All
*        Fred Krupp, President of the Environmental Defense Fund

Second Panel: Creating Green Opportunity: The Roles of Stakeholders

Panelists:

*        Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
*        Leo Gerard, International President of the Steelworkers of America
*        Mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter
*        Cecilia Estolano, Chief Executive Officer, Community Redevelopment Authority, City of Los Angeles
*        Mark Edlen, Co-founder and Managing Principal, Gerding-Edlen Development"

This event is OPEN to the press. Press wishing to attend must RSVP to press@ovp.eop.gov by 12 Noon on Thursday February 26th.  Wireless Internet will be provided.

Media Details:

Press Entrance: Houston Hall side doors, on Spruce Street

Date:         Friday, February 27, 2009 

Time:         Camera Pre-set: 7:30 AM EDT

Sweep: 8:30 AM EDT
Press Arrival: 10:30AM EDT
Final Press Access: 11:30 AM EDT
Event Begins: 12:30 PM EDT

Sat Trucks:   Please park on 3300 Block of Spruce St., between 33rd and 34th St. Philadelphia, PA

Cable Throw: 80 ft
Cable Run: up to 500 ft

** Please bring yellow jackets to protect your cables

To RSVP:  Please EMAIL your Name, Media Outlet, Phone and Email Address to press@ovp.eop.gov by 12 Noon on Thursday February 26th.

Media contact(s):
(202) 586-4940