Secretary Locke to Travel to Copenhagen to Discuss Administration’s Commitment to Spur Clean Energy Technology, Reinvigorate the Economy

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will travel to Copenhagen on Friday to discuss the Obama administration’s commitment to meet clean energy and climate change challenges and the promise clean energy development holds for spurring innovation, reinvigorating the economy and creating jobs.

On Saturday, Secretary Locke will open the Bright Green Expo. The U.S. Department of Commerce, along with the Confederation of Danish Industry, is hosting Bright Green to showcase companies, including dozens of U.S. companies that are already leading the way with innovation and intelligent technologies as the solution to the global climate challenge.

Secretary Locke has been a leading voice in the administration promoting innovation and investment in the clean energy economy. Earlier this week, Locke and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a new pilot program to accelerate the examination of certain “green” technology patent applications at the Commerce Department’s Patent and Trademark Office, which will help speed new products to the marketplace. The department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology is also leading an expedited effort to identify and develop standards critical to achieving a reliable and robust Smart Grid. The Smart Grid will be key to national efforts to further energy independence and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is responsible for providing the information that helps Americans understand, plan for and respond to climate variability and change. This fall, Secretary Locke led two White House forums with business leaders from around the country focused on ensuring American competitiveness and leadership in the emerging clean energy sector.