Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)

NESEA Tackles Global Warming with Forum in Boston, March 16

February 17, 2006

GREENFIELD, MA – The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is hosting a free public forum on climate change. Tackling Global Warming in the Northeast: Economic Opportunities and Policy Challenges is open to the public free of charge and will be held on Wednesday, March 16, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.

“The EPA has released a report that foresees Boston facing significant flooding and economic losses from a rise in ocean levels due to global warming,” said Nancy Hazard, Executive Director of NESEA. “The forum offers the public the opportunity to learn what business communities, governments, and individuals can do to significantly cut global-warming-causing emissions.”

This forum is a featured highlight of Building Energy 05, NESEA’s 30th annual conference. The conference draws renewable energy and green building professionals for three days of speakers, workshops, networking and special events. The conference features 150 speakers, nearly 80 sessions and 11 workshops. The first two days include a full Trade Show with over a hundred exhibitors. The Title Sponsor of Building Energy ’05 is the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

According to the newly-released EPA study, even the mildest impact of global warming would cause storm surge flooding of historic landmarks such as the Boston Public Garden and community treasures including Massachusetts General Hospital.

“The good news,” Hazard said, “is that the technologies that can reduce global warming emissions already exist, and new economic opportunities are emerging through the development of climate change solutions, but we need the will to embrace these solutions. The Northeast states have already agreed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. NESEA’s Tackling Global Warming forum will showcase the wide variety of steps we can all take now to hold the flood waters back.”

The Tackling Global Warming forum, sponsored by UK Trade & Investment, features a panel of leaders that can speak to the role of technology, business, and government in the US and the UK that working together, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Panelists include:

“UK’s Vision and Experience,” Marc Sinclair, British Consulate General

“The Role of Regulations,” Sonia Hamel, Mass. Office of the Commonwealth Development

“The Role of Business,” Mindy Lubber, Executive Director, CERES

“The Role of Green Buildings,” Gregory Kats, Capital E

“The Role of Renewable Energy,” Daniel G. Goldman, New Energy Capital Corp.

In conjunction with the Tackling Global Warming in the Northeast forum, the Building Energy 05 Trade Show will be open to the public at no cost from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), organizer of the conference, is the nation’s leading regional education and advocacy association that aims to accelerate the deployment and use of renewable energy, green buildings, and energy efficiency in everyday life. For more than thirty years, NESEA has facilitated and enhanced a network of professionals, practitioners, and the general public in pursuit of responsible energy use.

For more information about Building Energy 05 – “The Practice of Sustainability: Art/Science/Business,” and the Tackling Global Warming in the Northeast forum, please visit www.nesea.org or call 413-223-8005.