Promoting Diversity in the 'Green Gold Rush'

California Utilities Diversity Council to host Green Energy Conference to advance diversity in a new green energy economy.
While most economic sectors within California are ailing, the clean energy industry – newly dubbed the “green gold rush” – promises to boost jobs and drive development despite dismal economic conditions. The California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC), committed to promoting diversity in the state’s utility industry, will host a one-day conference Friday, May 29, in Long Beach, open to business owners, educators and all other professionals interested in learning from public and private sector experts.This event will bring together a diverse group of both business men and women, community members as well as top level executives of the leading utility companies in California. The CUDC encourages women, minority, service disabled and veteran business owners to participate to ensure that this emerging green energy economy is an inclusive representation of the community!
The conference, entitled “Advancing Diversity in the New Green Energy
Economy: How to take advantage of the green gold rush in California,” will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center and bring together top-ranking officials in California’s leading utility companies, private enterprise executives, educational institutions to lead the day’s events. Focus will be on business opportunities for existing and new entrepreneurs, as well as anticipated job opportunities with companies developing products and services in the new clean energy field.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Foster will welcome attendees, and California Public Utilities Commissions President and former Southern California Edison President Michael Peevey will deliver the keynote address on “Meeting the Challenge of Diversity in the New Green Economy.” Also among the presenters will be California Public Utilities Commissioners Rachelle Chong and John A. Bohn.
The green energy conference will directly address issues of diversity and inclusion in the clean energy industry, and provide opportunity to discuss solution strategies that can generate tens of thousands of green jobs for California. Topics that will be discussed include sustainable technologies for the future of California, the future of green jobs, businesses going green, the challenges of diversity in the new green economy, developing, cultivating and training a green pipeline, and the value of green branding.
“We are so excited to host this event, and promote human diversity in the clean energy industry,” said Jose Perez, chairman of the California Utilities Diversity Council. “Our primary goal is to broaden and sharpen understanding of how the transition to a clean energy economy can bring green investment and opportunity to entrepreneurial women, minority, service-disabled, and veteran business owners, as well as benefit underserved and underrepresented communities through green workforce education and job creation.”
Sponsors include Southern California Edison, Sempra Energy utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Company and Pacific Gas & Electric Company. The conference is presented in association with AT&T and the California Water Association.
The conference will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. To learn more about the CUDC and “Advancing Diversity in the New Green Energy Economy,” please visit
www.cudcsummit.com.