The purpose of The Clean Energy Summit, held yesterday in Annapolis, MD, was to inform the public about what sort of funds were available on a state and local level for Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency programs in Maryland since the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly referred to as the stimulus package) in February. Speakers included Congressman Steny Hoyer and his senior policy advisor Mary Frances Repko; Maryland Energy Administration Director Malcolm Wolff; Kenneth Connolly from the Maryland Clean Energy Center and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman among others.

In his key note address, House Majority Leader Hoyer urged Marylanders to see the importance of clean energy now more than ever. He pointed to investments in clean energy not only serving to diminish our environmental impact but also create jobs and economic stability for Maryland. Praised by Congressman Hoyer as a leading authority on clean energy policies, Mary Frances Repko outlined what sort of provisions for clean energy the stimulus made on a federal level. Ms. Repko made it clear that many of the policies were broadly defined and needed to be utilized to their fullest potential by cooperative relationships with the state government and private companies.

County and regional program representatives also spoke about what is already being done in the state for clean energy and energy efficiency. For example, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman discussed what his county has already begun to do to promote clean energy and how Howard County intended to use portions of the stimulus bill, including already purchasing 2 hybrid buses with more on the way. He mentioned a personal “pet peeve” that it was difficult to find replacements for county and city police vehicles that meet would new environmentally friendly expectations while still performing at necessary levels. Kenneth Connolly, board member of  the Maryland Clean Energy Center spoke on the Center’s mission to “transform the energy economy…by dramatically increasing the number of clean energy related technical innovations, entrepreneurial businesses, jobs and consumer adoption of products and services.” Green job training programs were also discussed, including the importance of partnering with local community colleges to offer training and certifications to those interested in alternative energy professions. Additional topics included apprenticeship programs in existing fields being expanded and technical training programs in area high schools for jobs in the alternative energy field.