Keynote Speakers Announced for GEA Geothermal Energy Finance Forum 2012

“We are so pleased to have two such intelligent, financially savvy leaders of the energy sector keynoting the GEA Finance Forum,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell. “The Finance Forum is designed to take the geothermal industry to the next level of financial development. Anne, an investing expert, and Karen, a California energy authority, will provide terrific insight to the attendees.”

Simpson has been called the “one of the world’s most influential investor activists.” Currently, she serves as Senior Portfolio Manager and head of Corporate Governance at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest public pension fund in the United States. She has previously served as Executive Director of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), an organization that represents investors responsible for $15 trillion in global assets.

Douglas serves as the Lead Commissioner on energy efficiency, power plant siting, and federal stimulus programs at the California Energy Commission. She was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008 and served a two-year term as Chair until February 2011. Douglas has previously been involved in energy and environment issues as the director of the California Climate Initiative at Environmental Defense and Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League.

The program will feature discussions with additional geothermal leaders including Dan Nastou, Power and Infrastructure, John Hancock Financial Services; John Marciano, Chadbourne & Parke LLP; Rick Rodgers, Managing Director and CEO, Montgomery Street Financial; Mark Taylor, Lead Analyst, CCS & Geothermal, Bloomberg New Energy Finance; Shinji Yamamoto, Chief Investment Officer, IFC; CJ Arrigo, Advisor, Glacier; David Watson, Hudson Ranch I, EnergySource; Jonathan Weisgall, Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affaris, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company; Kent Burton, National Environmental Strategies; Jonathan Zurkoff, VP of Finance, U.S. Geothermal; Louis Capuano Jr, Chairman of the Board, ThermaSource; Subir Sanyal, President and Manager of Reservoir Engineering, GeothermEx; Anders Kruss, Alterra Power Corp.; Craig Mataczynski, CEO, Gradient Resources; Lenny Hochschild, Managing Director, Evolution Markets, Inc.; and more.

California is a policy leader in the United States with one of the most ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standards in the country. California’s landmark renewable energy standard legislation was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown this year, and will require California utilities to provide at least a third of their electricity from clean and safe renewable sources like geothermal by the year 2020. With 48 operating geothermal power plants and approximately 2,500 MW of installed geothermal capacity, California is No. 1 in United States’ geothermal generation. It is estimated that the state has a potential of more than 3,000 megawatts of additional power from geothermal energy, using current technologies. 

To register for the event, please visit: http://geo-energy.org/events/finance_forum_2012.aspx. Discounted registration is available through December 23^rd. Significant discounts for GEA Members and Students are available.

For more information or to receive media credentials, please contact Shawna Seldon, 212 255 7541 or Shawna@rosengrouppr.com.

About the Geothermal Energy Association:

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is a trade association composed of U.S. companies who support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal Resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heat uses.  GEA advocates for public policies that will promote the development and utilization of geothermal Resources, provides a forum for the industry to discuss issues and problems, encourages research and development to improve geothermal technologies, presents industry views to governmental organizations, provides assistance for the export of geothermal goods and services, compiles statistical data about the geothermal industry, and conducts education and outreach projects. For more information, please visit http://www.geo-energy.org/.  Check out GEA’s YouTube Channel.  Follow GEA on Twitter.  Become a fan on Facebook.