On June 30, an event entitled "What Role can Cleantech and Smart Grid Start-ups Play in Solving the Climate Change Crisis?" will take place in San Francisco. This event is part of the CPUC Thought Leaders Series. Speakers at this program will be:
- Saul Griffith, Inventor, Entrepreneur, MacArthur Fellow, and Chief Scientist at Other Lab, has created a variety of companies. In the Clean Tech and Climate Change areas, companies he has created include Makani (high-altitude wind energy), Potenco (human-powered generation), WattzOn (online tool to quantify, track, compare and understand your energy use), and onya cycles (hybrid electric bikes).
- Cree A. Edwards, Chairman of the Board and a Founder of eMeter Corporation. eMeter provides the essential software platform and applications that enable electric, gas, and water utilities to achieve large-scale Smart Grid deployments. Mr. Edwards co-founded CellNet Data Systems, Inc., an industry leader in providing advanced electricity metering data and communications to utilities. His many roles at Cellnet included Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
These speakers will discuss issues including:
- The challenges encountered by cleantech and Smart Grid start-up companies in achieving commercial viability.
- Should utilities and tech companies actively provide Venture Capital funding to Cleantech and Smart Grid start-ups?
- What should utilities and tech companies do to facilitate commercial success by viable Cleantech and Smart Grid start-up companies?
- What can government do to enable the commercial success of viable Cleantech and Smart Grid start-up companies?
This event is free of charge and will take place from 1:30 to 3 PM in the CPUC auditorium (505 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco). For additional information and registration visit http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/thoughtleaders. This event will also be webcast.