ARPA-E Opens Third Annual Energy Innovation Summit
The three-day event began Feb. 27 with workshops for technology developers involved in zero-carbon power, electrical storage, emerging ideas, and other topics.
The biggest names, former President Bill Clinton and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, are scheduled to speak Feb. 28 and Feb. 29, respectively, at the literally high-powered third annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit, which is taking place at a Gaylord resort near Washington, D.C. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu is giving the Feb. 28 keynote, and several members of Congress are scheduled to speak at the event focused on commercializing cutting-edge technologies for energy generation, transmission, and use.
The event began with workshops for technology developers on Feb. 27. Lee Scott, former Walmart CEO, and Frederick W. Smith, chairman/president/CEO of FedEx, are speaking Feb. 28. Chu and Gates are participating in a "fireside chat" at 10:15 a.m. that day.
A Feb. 29 fireside chat will include Ursula Burns, chairman and CEO of Xerox, and Susan Hockfield, president of MIT. Clinton's keynote is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 29.
Technologies to make transportation and electrical service more efficient and ensuring that the U.S. workforce has the necessary skills for the future economy are topics being discussed in Feb. 28 forums.
The event's website displays the names of all participating organizations in the innovation showcase, and the technologies are searchable by technology, state, or commercial readiness.