Clean Energy Connections Presents No Money No Problems? Financing Cleantech in the Post-ARRA Era

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The first event of Clean Energy Connections will open its 2012 season with No Money No Problems? Financing Cleantech in the Post-ARRA Era on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, 44 Charlton Street (at Varick Street), New York.

Solar One and the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Renewable Economy (NYC ACRE) at Polytechnic Institute of New York University present the discussion series and online forum, Clean Energy Connections. The beginning of 2012 ushers in a new era in renewable energy funding. Section 1603 Treasury Program is dead in the water thanks to a gridlocked Congress, and low tax appetites have hamstrung potential investors. As the industry moves into an uncertain financial landscape, where will today's renewable energy upstarts find funding? Will private financing step in to sustain the industry's momentum? How can the considerable financial power of New York City take a leadership role? No Money No Problems? Financing Cleantech in the Post-ARRA Era will feature leading financial experts debating these questions and discussing where cleantech is headed now that the federal buck has stopped.

Clean Energy Connections brings together professionals, policymakers, investors and academia to explore major topics shaping New York City's blossoming cleantech industry, and it provides an expert forum to share best practices and new inspirations. Clean Energy Connections was developed in partnership with the Energy $mart Communities program of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and is sponsored by NYSERDA, Loeb & Loeb LLP, and Con Edison's Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs. This event was also sponsored by Karbone. Greentech Media is the media sponsor for this series and will host the live web stream of this event at www.greentechmedia.com.

Opening Speaker:

• Nathanael Greene, Director of Renewable Energy Policy, Natural Resources Defense Council

Panelists:                           

• Izzet Bensusan, President and CEO, Karbone
• Ann Davlin, Director of Development, Carbon War Room
• Jason Scott, Partner, EKO Asset Management Partners

Moderator:

• Michael Molnar, Partner, Greentech Capital Advisors

This event is open to the public.  General admission is $25, and student admission is $10. Advanced registration is required at www.cleanecnyc.org.

Solar One is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing energy and environmental awareness, and inspiring action through public education and cultural programming. Solar One is the Manhattan and Staten Island contractor for Energy $mart Communities, a program of NYSERDA.

NYC ACRE at NYU-Poly is New York City's first cleantech incubator seeded by a four year, $1.5 million grant from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) and supported by the New York City Investment Fund. It is dedicated to growing an ecosystem of entrepreneurs, international companies, and innovative local businesses that provide solutions to climate and energy issues while growing the cleantech/renewable energy sector and creating jobs in NYC. www.nycacre.com

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.  NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs.  A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.

Greentech Media delivers research and analysis in the business-to-business greentech market. Using an integrated platform, we produce high quality products, whether it is industry news, market research or networking events. GTM Research, the research arm of the company, produces in-depth market reports and is the publisher of PV News, a monthly solar market tracker. Greentech Media is headquartered in Boston, MA, with operations in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA and Munich. For more information, visit www.greentechmedia.com.

Clean Energy Connections Sponsors

Platinum -- NYSERDA

Gold – Con Edison, Loeb & Loeb LLP

Event Sponsor - Karbone

Clean Energy Connections Partners

Greentech Media, Young Professionals in Energy, New York Association for Energy Economics

SOURCE Polytechnic Institute of New York University