Rocky Mountain Institute to Host “RMI Quest for Solutions” Panel Discussion Presented by GreenBiz Friday, October 2, in San Francisco

RMIQ features a panel of prominent business leaders in energy and innovation who will discuss a vision for a stronger, cleaner energy plan, and highlight opportunities for business to lead the transition from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables.

Hosted by Joel Makower, GreenBiz.com - Joel Makower has been a well-respected voice on business, the environment, and the bottom line. As a writer, speaker, and strategist on corporate environmental practices, clean technology, and green marketing, he has helped a wide range of companies align environmental responsibility with business success.

RMIQ panelists include:

Amory Lovins, Chairman and Chief Scientist, RMI - Published in 29 books and hundreds of papers, his work has been recognized by the Blue Planet, Volvo, Onassis, Nissan, Shingo, and Mitchell Prizes, a MacArthur Fellowship, the Benjamin Franklin and Happold Medals, ten honorary doctorates, an Hon. AIA and FRSA, Foreign Membership of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, and the Heinz, Lindbergh, Right Livelihood, and World Technology Awards. He advises governments and major firms worldwide on advanced energy and resource efficiency, and has led the technical redesign of >$30 billion worth of facilities in 29 sectors to achieve very large energy savings at typically lower capital cost.

Dan W. Reicher, Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, Google - Mr. Reicher joined Google in 2007. Initiatives for the company’s venture called Google.org which was capitalized with more than $1 billion of Google stock to make investments, advance policy and develop products in the areas of climate change and energy, health, and global development. Mr. Reicher is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, a member of General Electric’s Ecomagination Advisory Board, co-chairman of the board of the American Council on Renewable Energy, and a member of the board of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Paul Holland, General Partner, Foundation CapitalIn addition to coordinating the CleanTech practice at Foundation Capital, Paul’s primary focus is on helping early-stage startups go from zero to $100M in revenue. He helped take public two venture-funded software start-ups, Karna Communications (KANA), and Pure Software (RATL).

Bill Joy, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers At Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer, Bill Joy helps entrepreneurs advance the Internet, develop wireless innovations, and find new ways of using large-scale computing to solve the most difficult problems. He also helps entrepreneurs who have discoveries and inventions that can solve energy and resource problems, and assists them in applying 21st century advances in physics, chemistry, and the natural sciences to help create abundance. Formerly Chief Scientist of Sun Microsystems, Mr. Joy led Sun’s technical strategy from the founding of the company in 1982 until September 2003.

Aimée Christensen, CEO, Christensen Global Strategies – Ms. Christensen advises clients including the Clinton Global Initiative, Duke Energy, the United Nations Development Program, Virgin Unite, and Wolfensohn & Co. Trained as an environmental and energy lawyer, Aimée has developed climate change and sustainability strategy in the corporate, governmental, and philanthropic sectors. She previously worked with Google.org, the World Bank, Environment2004, and Baker & McKenzie, and she negotiated the first bilateral and regional agreements on climate change while at the U.S. Department of Energy in the 1990s.

Catherine Zoi, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyIn her role as Assistant Secretary, Ms. Zoi manages the U.S. Department of Energy’s $2.1 billion applied science, research, development, and deployment portfolio, which promotes marketplace integration of renewable and environmentally sound energy technologies. Additionally, Ms. Zoi oversees EERE’s $16.8 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. EERE is responsible for education, conservation, regulation, and efficient use of our nation’s energy resources, including federal energy management, building codes, appliance standards, vehicle technologies, and the ENERGY STAR® program. EERE works to strengthen the United States’ energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality through public-private partnerships.

The RMIQ is a part of the 3-day symposium, “RMI 2009: From Ideas to Solutions,” and offers a very affordable registration option. Local professionals, students, community leaders, and those interested in learning about economic opportunities beyond fossil fuels are encouraged to attend the event, and join RMI for a networking reception immediately following the panel. Individuals are welcome to register for the entire symposium October 1-3, or chose to participate only in the RMIQ October 2. For more information on registration, please click here.