Sen. Baucus Announces Prominent Wind Energy Leaders To Participate In His Montana Jobs Summit in Butte

Industry Experts to Connect with Montana Businesses at Economic Development Summit

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today announced key leaders in the wind energy industry who will attend his Montana Economic Development Summit in Butte September 13th and 14th. Baucus will bring leaders from General Electric, Horizon, Vestas and Siemens, along with power purchasers such as Pacific Gas and Electric, the administrators of Western Area Power Administration and Bonneville Power Administration and Department of Energy experts to participate in panels exploring the opportunities and challenges in developing wind energy in Montana.

“The potential for wind energy development in Montana is enormous, and with energy development comes good-paying jobs,” Baucus said. “We are bringing the best wind energy experts in the field to Butte, and I’m thrilled to have them in Montana to connect with local businesses who are working to put our great state on the map as a leader in America’s energy future.”

Baucus previously announced Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt will also take part in the summit, along with legendary investor Warren Buffett and ambassadors from around the world.

Energy experts to attend the summit include:

§ Gabriel Alonso, CEO, Horizon Wind Energy;

§ Jon Chase, Vice President, Government Relations, Vestas – American Wind Technology, Inc.;

§ Mike Revak, Vice President, Siemens Wind Power;

§ Don Furman, Senior Vice President, Iberdrola Renewables;

§ Tom Bottorff, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Relations, Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation;

§ Tim Meeks, Administrator, Western Area Power Administration;

§ Stephen J. Wright, Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration;

§ Dave Gates, Vice President of Wholesale Operations, Northwestern Energy;

§ Byron Woertz, Sr. Project Manager, Regional Transmission Expansion Planning (RTEP) Project, Western Electricity Coordinating Council;

§ Alex Pourbaix, President, TransCanada;

§ Bill Alexander, Chief Development Officer North America, NaturEner;

§ Rhyno Stinchfield, CEO, Montana Wind Resources, LLC and President of GreenWorld Partners;

§ Moses Boyd, Founding Partner, United States Renewable Energy Group;

§ Pat Pelstring, Co-Chairman, National Wind, LLC;

§ Laura Morton, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy;

§ A representative from Fuhrländer; and

§ A representative from General Electric.

Additional participants at the summit include:

§ Media pioneer and internet executive Barry Diller, CEO of IAC, Chairman of Expedia, Inc. and Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment;

§ Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft;

§ Bob Iger, President and CEO of Disney; and

§ Karen Gordon Mills, Administrator of Small Business Administration.

As chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, Baucus is committed to supporting Montana businesses and fighting to provide them with the tools they need to grow and create good-paying jobs for Montana workers.

Click here http://www.montanaeconomicsummit.org/ for more information and to register for the Montana Economic Development Summit.

Contact: Kate Downen 406-839-4713/Kathy Weber 406-698-1477/Jennifer Donohue 202-224-2651