Invitation 




Governor Brian Schweitzer and PSC Chairman Greg Jergeson 

request your presence at a most timely and important panel discussion on energy. 


Tuesday, November 21 at 1:30 pm in State Capitol Building Room 172 



Advanced Coal Technology/Renewable Energy Integration Presentation Scheduled 

Helena, MT, November 13, 2006 ­ Today, Governor Brian Schweitzer and Public Service Commission Chairman Greg Jergeson announced their offices¹ joint sponsorship of a panel presentation by great plains/upper Midwest energy leaders on some of the emerging opportunities available utilizing advanced coal technology and renewable energy integration.  The panel will include Roger Johnson, North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture, Charlie Bullinger, senior principal engineer at Great River Energy¹s Coal Creek Station, Mike Gregerson, consultant with Great Plains Institute and Beth Soholt, executive director of Wind on the Wires.   
The panelists come from a larger group of 27 industry executives, state regulators, elected officials, and environmental advocates from 11 states, including Montana, who have been studying firsthand the next generation of advanced gasification technologies that gasify coal and biomass to produce electric power, syngas, liquid fuels, chemicals and hydrogen and that have the capability to capture carbon dioxide emissions for geologic storage.  As part of their study activities, panel members traveled to Europe for site visits where these technologies are being employed already.  While there, panel members were briefed by Dutch and German industry executives and government officials about European policies and strategies.  The group¹s efforts have been organized by the Great Plains Institute and sponsored by the Edgerton Foundation. 

As Schweitzer and Jergeson released details of the panel presentation, Governor Schweitzer stated, ³I believe the presentation from these experts will enhance the consideration of energy initiatives benefiting the residents of Montana.² ³I¹m pleased that the panelists are well-grounded in real-world economics and committed to achievable results,² PSC Chairman Jergeson concluded.  
continued 

WHEN AND WHERE 

1:30 P.M., Tuesday, November 21 

Room 172 

State Capitol Building 

Helena, MT 

 
WHO¹S INVITED

      .      Representatives of the coal, utility, and oil and gas industries

      .      State officials and legislators

      .      Conservation and environmental organizations

      .      Members of the media

      .      General public

AGENDA 

Welcome 

á        Brian Schweitzer, Governor of MontanaPresentation of delegation program, key findings, implications and next steps 

á        Roger Johnson, Commissioner of Agriculture, Bismarck, ND 

á        Charlie Bullinger,, Senior principal engineer, Great River Energy, Underwood, ND 

á        Mike Gregerson, former utility industry executive, consultant with Great Plains Institute 

á        Beth Soholt, Director, Wind on the Wires, St. Paul, Minnesota 

á        Brad Crabtree, Program director, Great Plains Institute 

Q&A and discussion

 

Closing remarks 

á        Greg Jergeson, Chairman, Montana Public Service Commission