National Clean Energy Summit to focus on jobs

August 30, 2010 by Kirsten Calvin 

Event with Harry Reid, Neal Smatresk aims to advance technology, energy policy discusson

Many of America’s eminent clean energy experts, investors and public officials will arrive at UNLV on Sept. 7 for the third installment of the National Clean Energy Summit.

The event will be hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. and UNLV. It will run with the subtitle “Investing in American Jobs.”

The summits have become important and influential vehicles for advances in clean energy policy, and Las Vegas’ role in those advances is responsible for a great deal of optimism
about improving economic conditions in the state.

“Nevada is the perfect place to hold this important national discussion,” Reid told reporters in July.

“Our state is leading the way in creating jobs and capitalizing on its vast clean energy resources, which include solar, wind and geothermal. This is a great opportunity for national leaders to see what we are doing here so other states can follow suit.”

UNLV President Neal Smatresk said that he sees the conference as the latest high point in the school’s climb to supremacy and prestige in the renewable energy field. “Simply,” Smatresk said, “I want UNLV and Las Vegas to become the solar capitals of the world.”

The first panel of speakers will discuss attracting funds for clean energy research and industry. The panel will include many big business executives and financial professionals.

Reid is among those slated to appear, who will likely speak of his personal role in supporting policies for alternative energy research.

John Podesta, from the Center’s Action Fund, will be moderating the event. “Investments in clean energy have created thousands of jobs in the midst of an economic downturn,” he told reporters.

“This year’s summit will focus on job creation by identifying policies that help Nevada and other states harness private capital to invest in clean energy and efficiency projects.”

The second panel will focus specifically on clean energy’s contribution to job growth in Nevada and across the U.S. and will feature a variety of local and national officials, including Smatresk.

“UNLV, through its research, is making major contributions to Las Vegas and economic diversification,” Smatresk said. “I’ll talk about UNLV’s central role in stimulating the renewables economy.”

That role includes the development of a variety of innovative ideas, including plans for a campus Solar Solutions Center, which Smatresk said would become a center supporting
private industry in clean energy.

The center would engage in research, policy analysis and business community outreach, to create jobs in the solar energy industry and make strides in the development of technology and pro-solar policy.

Smatresk will also discuss last year’s creation of the solar and renewable energy
minor, which he says will host approximately 100 new students this fall.

Smatresk said that this trend toward incorporating clean energy initiatives at UNLV will continue. “We’ve been doing great in funding clean energy,” he said. “We have a proposal in with the Department of Energy that will be a catalyst for the rapid transformation
of this region and our economy.”

Healthy levels of funding may make the program attractive to new students and improve the overall reputation of the school following extreme budget cuts, staff losses and program
elimination.

“When students come to our school, they get access to state-of-the-art research facilities, and that makes for students who can compete in the marketplace,” Smatresk said.

To maintain the focus on regional and national clean energy progress, the university will also host an additional event the day after the National Clean Energy summit.

On Sept. 8, the UNLV Clean Energy Forum will continue the discussion with members of the Brookings Institution, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the RAND Corporation, NV Energy, Southwest Gas and UNLV officials in attendance.

The summit aims to be politically relavant, as Nevada quickly approaches the United States Senate election.

Reid hopes to garner some positive attention in the coming months in his battle against Sharron Angle, R-Nev., and the summit’s focus on clean energy presents an opportunity to allay concerns about jobs in the state.