DATE: May 18, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT:  Kimberly Maroe
Public Information Manager, Broward County Commission
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org 

Washington, D.C. - Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, Chair of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force, will join more than 100 local government climate and energy leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., May 18-20, as part of the Local Climate Leadership Summit. Commissioner Jacobs will be moderating a panel with key climate and energy leaders from President Barack Obama's Administration (May 18) and participating in a press conference in the nation's capital (May 19).

The Summit will take place as the House Energy and Commerce Committee considers landmark climate and energy legislation sponsored by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA). Commissioner Jacobs will represent Broward County at the national level at a crucial time as part of an effort to ensure that federal climate and energy policies recognize and support the critical role of local governments in reducing energy consumption, creating new green jobs and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Monday, May 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Capital Hilton: Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs will moderate this session featuring environmental leaders from the Obama Administration.
• Ron Sims, HUD Deputy Secretary
• Van Jones, White House CEQ Special Advisor for Green Jobs
• Gil Sperling, Department of Energy, Manager of Weatherization & Intergovernmental Programs
• Rob Brenner, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air & Radiation, Director of Policy Analysis and Review

Monday, May 18 at 12:00 p.m. at the Capital Hilton: Lunch keynote by Edward Mazria, Founder and Executive Director, Architecture 2030, "Multiply Your Stimulus Dollars: 14x Stimulus Plan"

Monday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital Hilton: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Special Announcement on new Climate Showcase Communities demonstration grants for local governments

CAPITOL HILL PRESS CONFERENCE:
Tuesday, May 19 at 9:00 a.m. at 2203 Rayburn House Office Building - Press Conference: Local government leaders and Members of Congress will discuss the critical role of local governments in reducing energy consumption and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Invited Members of Congress include: John Dingell (D-MI), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), John Barrow (D-GA), Bruce Braley (D-IA), and Peter Welch (D-VT). Local government leaders from Washtenaw County, Mich.; King County, Wash.; Snohomish County, Wash.; Tacoma, Wash; Monmouth County, NJ; Savannah, Ga.; Dubuque, Iowa; and Sacramento County, Calif., will participate.
*Commissioner Jacobs will be available for media interviews following the press conference.

Wednesday, May 20 at 12:30 p.m. at the Capital Hilton: Keynote address from White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley

ACCESS: All sessions of the Summit (private meetings on the Hill excluded) are open to credentialed members of the press. To register, visit www.localclimateleadershipsummit.org or contact annie.strickler@iclei.org.