World Electrotechnical Experts to Discuss Energy Generation, Distribution, and Conservation at Open Session of IEC 2010 General Meeting

Microsoft's Dan Reed To Provide Keynote Address

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States National Committee (USNC) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is pleased to announce that a free Open Council Session on Energy Generation, Distribution, and Conservation will take place on Friday, October 15, as part of the IEC 2010 General Meeting.

The 2010 General Meeting, the largest in IEC history, has brought together over 2,800 delegates from across the globe. More than 80 countries are represented at the events, including gatherings for 100 Technical Committees (TCs) and subcommittees (SCs). All told, over 400 meetings for these TCs, SCs, working groups, and more are being held over the course of the events, which began on October 6. Technical and policy discussions at the meetings will have a powerful impact on the electrotechnical community and its activities in international standardization.

The Open Council Session will take place on October 15, 2010, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA 98101), Room 6B.

This free, open event features a keynote address from Dan Reed, Ph.D., corporate vice president of technology strategy and policy & extreme computing group at Microsoft Corporation. Following the keynote, a panel of speakers moderated by Frank K. Kitzantides, senior technology advisor at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and IEC vice president and chair of the Standardization Management Board (SMB), will discuss "hot button" issues including Smart Grid, alternative energies, and electric vehicles.

Discussion topics and panelists will include:

• Wind Energy: C. P. (Sandy) Butterfield, Chief Executive Officer, Boulder Wind Power; Chair, IEC/TC 88, Wind Turbines
• Resurgence of the Nuclear Option: Morgan Cox, Health Physicist, U. S. Department of Energy–Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Chair, IEC/TC 45, Nuclear Instrumentation
• Fuel Cells: Dr. Fumio Ueno, Technology Executive–Devices and Components Control Center, Toshiba Corp.; Chair, IEC/TC 105, Fuel Cell Technologies
• Wave Energy: Melanie Nadeau, Manager–Marine Energy, CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada; Chair, IEC/TC 114, Wave, Tidal and Other Water Current Converters
• Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems: Heinz Alexander Ossenbrink, Head of Unit–Renewable Energies, Institute for Energy, European Commission DG Joint Research Centre; Chair, IEC/TC 82, Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems
• Smart Grid: Richard Schomberg, Vice President–Innovation Sourcing and Transfer, Electricite de France, Convener, IEC SMB Strategic Group (SG) 3, Smart Grid
• Smart Grid: Dr. George W. Arnold, National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• E-Transportation: Ziva Patir, Vice President of Standards, Certification, and Compliance, Better Place

This event is open to the media; to gain press access to the world's foremost electrotechnical experts during this exciting series of events, contact Liz Neiman ([email protected]; 917.650.3006). Detailed press kits with background information about the event will be available on site.

For more information on the 2010 IEC General Meeting, visit www.iec2010.org.

About the USNC

The U.S. National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (USNC/IEC) serves as the focal point for U.S. parties who are interested in the development, promulgation, and use of globally-relevant standards for the electrotechnical industry. The Committee is also engaged in the assessment of conformance to standards, undertaking work in areas such as testing, certification, and accreditation.

As the United States' representative to the IEC and many related regional standardization bodies, the USNC/IEC serves as a conduit to the global standards-setting community for technical and policy positions arising in the U.S. and brings issues from the global arena to the U.S. for review, consideration, and response.

The USNC/IEC is a totally integrated committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Institute provides administrative support to the USNC and its nearly 1,400 U.S. managerial, engineering, scientific, and professional participants.

About the IEC

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the world's leading organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies – collectively known as electrotechnology. With full and associate member bodies representing 81 countries around the world, the IEC promotes international cooperation on all questions of electrotechnical standardization and related matters.

Some of the many technologies embraced by the IEC include electronics; magnetics and electromagnetics; electroacoustics; multimedia; telecommunication; and energy production and distribution.

The IEC also manages conformity assessment systems that certify that equipment, systems, or components conform to its International Standards.

SOURCE American National Standards Institute