Clean energy future forum – Thursday 8th March

I am writing to invite interested organisations and individuals to participate in a forum that will discuss the opportunities available in the transition to a clean energy economy in Australia, with a particular focus on the New England region.

Those who attend the Clean Energy Future Forum will hear brief presentations and panel discussions with some of Australia’s leading clean energy companies, investors with hundreds of billions of dollars to sink into clean energy projects, ‘green skills’ training providers, and experts on how farmers and local governments can earn money from the Carbon Farming Initiative.

A series of stalls within the venue will allow audience members to interact with both the speakers and with other participants, including those behind local clean energy projects. In place of a solid block of speeches, the forum has been designed to break up the presentations with time for attendees to circulate the stalls and ask their own questions.

The goal of the Clean Energy Future Forum is to foster an understanding of the clean energy sector and the broader changes that will flow from carbon pricing, to ensure local people are ready to take advantage of the opportunities as they emerge. The event offers local people a rare opportunity to engage directly with high-profile national experts in their field.

The Clean Energy Future Forum will take place at:

Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall

Thursday March 8^th 2012 from 6.00 – 8.00pm

I have included a list of the speakers and panellists and an outline of the event on the attached page for your reference.

A similar forum will also be held the following morning for local school students.

I look forward to participating with you in an exciting forum that will give us a glimpse of the future in the New England region.

Yours Sincerely,

Tony Windsor

Independent Member for New England

Clean Energy Future Forum

Speakers:

• Mr Tony Windsor
• Steven Kennedy, Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
• Nathan Fabian from the Investor Group on Climate Change, which has $600 billion to invest in clean energy projects
• Lane Crockett from Pacific Hydro – operates hydro and wind farms across Australia
• Mike Tournier from the Carbon Market Institute – presentation about how farmers and local governments can make money from the Carbon Farming Initiative
• Simon Holmes-a-Court from Embark – this organisation helps communities build their own clean energy projects
• Simon O’Connor, Australian Conservation Foundation – Presentation regarding the jobs and investment that will flow from the carbon price and its related measures
• Adam Blakester from New England Wind – currently setting up a wind farm in Armidale
• Paul Callaghan, the Director of TAFE New England Institute – pursuing several sustainability projects including training for employees for wind farmsStall holders (in addition to the above organisations):
• Bio-Tech Waste Management, an Armidale company which uses duckweed to clean waste water and make biofuel
• Namoi Catchment Management Authority
• NSW Renewable Energy Precincts
• Australian Youth Climate Coalition
• Climate Action Group
  Format:
• Introduction: Brief presentations by Tony Windsor, Steven Kennedy, Simon O’Connor, Nathan Fabian (Total 20 mins)
• Interaction: Time for attendees to look at displays and talk to providers (25 mins)
• Panel: Presentations by Lane Crockett, Simon Holmes-a-Court, Adam Blakester, Mike Tournier, Paul Callaghan (Total 25 mins)
• Q&A: All presenters, chaired by Tony Windsor (30 mins)
• Close: Wrap by Tony Windsor (5 mins)