Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, Sen. Hillary Clinton to Speak at Energy Efficiency Forum

WASHINGTON, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Global decision-makers and influencers will outline and comment on strategies for gaining independence from foreign energy sources at the 17th annual Energy Efficiency Forum, June 14 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/JCILOGO )

U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman will give the keynote speech at the event, which will also feature presentations by Sens. Hillary Clinton, D.- N.Y., and Dianne Feinstein, D.-Calif. as well as other public and private sector representatives. In addition, Cheng Lianyuan, bureau director at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Industrial Development, will discuss China's challenges balancing economic growth with energy conservation.

The theme of this year's Forum, "Energy Efficiency: The Path Toward Independence," highlights the growing awareness of energy's impact on security and the economy in today's world. The Forum, which is sponsored by the United States Energy Association (USEA) and Johnson Controls, Inc., is designed to raise awareness of the technical, economic and political solutions available to improve energy efficiency. The annual bipartisan event is attended by hundreds of executives and government officials who are involved with managing energy policies for their respective organizations.

The energy crisis has affected all sectors of the economy and this year's Forum includes perspectives from both business and government including: Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell; former senator Timothy Wirth, now president of the United Nations Foundation and Better World Fund; Thomas Leppert, chairman of the board and CEO of construction giant The Turner Corporation; and Jacqueline Schafer, assistant administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for economic growth, agriculture and trade. In addition to individual speakers, the Forum will feature a panel discussion on "Balancing Energy Supply and Demand." The panelists are Red Cavaney, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute; Thomas Kuhn, president of Edison Electric Institute; and David Parker, president and CEO of the American Gas Association. The discussion will be moderated by Branko Terzic, global and U.S. regulatory policy leader in the energy resources group of Deloitte Services, based in Washington D.C.

Several speakers will receive Energy Leadership Awards at the event. The awards recognize current and former public officials who have promoted energy efficiency. Sens. Clinton and Feinstein, Cheng Lianyuan, Gov. Rendell, Wirth and Schafer will all be presented with awards at the Forum. A schedule of the day's program is attached to this release. For a complete listing of award winners and bios, visit http://www.eeforum.net/ .

The United States Energy Association is comprised of approximately 150 public and private energy-related organizations, corporations and government agencies. It represents the United States in the World Energy Council. Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls has 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers in 125 countries. Founded in 1885, the company is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ .