General Wesley Clark to Deliver Keynote Address at The Business of Plugging In
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Ann Arbor, Mich., - September 11, 2009 - Retired four-star General Wesley Clark will headline a who's who of industry leaders for the Business of Plugging In, a plug-in electric vehicle conference taking place in Detroit, Michigan October 19-21, 2009.
JDTE Energy is thrilled to have Gen. Clark provide keynote remarks at The Business of Plugging In Conference. As former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces and an important voice in contemporary energy and security discussions, General Clark is a great addition to the speaker roster," says Anthony Earley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DTE Energy. "I look forward to hearing his perspective on the role that plug-in vehicles will play in securing a cleaner and more sustainable transportation system."
During his military career, Clark wrote studies analyzing the dangers of foreign oil supply chains and the need for economic and military security in the Middle East. Today, Clark is Co-Chairman of Growth Energy, an advocacy group for America's ethanol producers, and is a strong proponent of boosting the economy through the creation of green-collar jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.
More than 60 speakers are scheduled to present at this two-day conference that features keynote sessions and panel discussions on such topics as a national strategy to support plug-in electric vehicles, battery technology, infrastructure developments, creating a PEV ready workforce, and consumer acceptance.
Other speakers include:
Peter Darbee, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation
Anthony Earley, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DTE Energy
William Ford, Chairman, Ford Motor Company
David W. Joos, President and Chief Executive Officer, CMS Energy
Ray Lane, Managing Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Richard Lowenthal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Coulomb Technologies, Inc.
Doug Parks, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Attraction, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Tony Posawatz, P.E., Vehicle Line Director, Chevrolet Volt, and Co-Chairman Electric Vehicle Drive Association
Juergen Reers, Managing Partner, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants
Anne Marie Sastry, Ph.D., Professor of Mechanical, Biomedical, and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan and Chief Executive Officer, Sakti3
David Vieau, President and Chief Executive Officer, A123Systems
Brian P. Wynne, President, Electric Drive Transportation Association
On October 20, the conference will focus on, “The Electrification of the Vehicle: Supporting a National Strategy,” which will explore how policy and business strategies can combine to speed‐up the introduction and acceptance of PEVs. The following day, the program will address the marketing challenge of PEVs with the theme of “When We Build It…Will they Come?”
In addition to the conference sessions, an exposition will showcase the latest innovations in PEVs, charging infrastructure, green power generation, Smart Grid applications, and other advanced technologies.
For more information about The Business of Plugging In and to register, please visit www.pev2009.com.
About the Founding Partners
This conference is made possible through a grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission to DTE Energy, a Detroit‐based diversified energy company (www.dteenergy.com), the University of Michigan (www.energy.umich.edu), and General Motors Company (www.GM.com). The Center for Automotive Research, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan is managing the conference.