Sacramento, CA…The path to economic recovery is paved in green, a fact known to many who will be attending the upcoming Green California Summit & Exposition (April 18-20, 2011, Sacramento Convention Center). Billions of dollars in venture capital have poured into California’s clean tech companies, and the state is a national, and international, leader in energy and water conservation and environmental protection…

From green economic development and the smart grid to alternative vehicles and the new mandatory green building code, the Summit provides the unique opportunity for those in government, education, non-profit and the private sector to discover innovations in technology, policy and practice. Principal sponsors include Philips Lighting, the Sacramento Metropolitan Utility District, Firestone Building Products and Gen7.

Keynotes and Expo

Keynote sessions provide insight and inspiration, while the exhibit hall, with nearly 200 vendors, gives attendees hands-on exposure to a wide range of green products and services. Registered attendees can attend both at no cost, as well as the Green California Leadership Awards reception.

On April 19, Terry Tamminen, Founder and President of 7th Generation Advisors and author of “Cracking the Carbon Code: the Keys to Sustainable Profits in the New Economy,” will be the Summit’s opening keynote speaker. Mr. Tamminen also served as Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and was the architect of many sustainability policies, including the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, whose new Greenwise initiative aims to “transform Sacramento into the Emerald Valley,” will join him as featured speaker.

They keynote speaker on April 20 will be Elton B. Sherwin, Jr., the Senior Managing Director of Ridgewood Capital and author of “Addicted to Energy—A Venture Capitalist’s Perspective on How to Save our Economy and Our Climate.” Margret Kim, Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Green Business Development and International Partnerships at CalEPA, will address global competition for green innovation and jobs as the featured speaker.

Education Program

Pre-summit full-day workshop topics on April 18 include how to run a green building, LEED project management and a half-day seminar on the CalGreen building code. There will be 15 educational sessions during the next two days addressing topics from green economic development to facilities management, renewable energy and green purchasing.

For information on exhibiting or to register go to www.green-technology.org/gcsummit or call 626-577-5700.