Energy Summit in Chicago Focuses on Creating Jobs; Building Competitive Edge in a Tough Economy

CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Environmental advocates T. Boone Pickens and Alexandra Cousteau keynote the World Energy Engineering Congress conference that addresses industry growth, job advancement and energy management and efficiency for nation's building / plant engineers.

The job opportunities available in the energy management industry will be among the top discussion items at the World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC) in Chicago, October 12-14, 2011, at the Navy Pier Convention Center. Presented by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the largest trade association dedicated to energy management, the WEEC is in its 34th year, and is the most important global event for professionals in all areas of the energy field.

More than 250 speakers are scheduled to present on the latest energy industry trends, including energy efficiency, alternative/green energy, smart grid innovations and how these forces merge with new technologies and regulatory developments that affect not just the industry, but the nation's economic future.

The WEEC will feature two of the most respected names in energy management and conservation:

• T. Boone Pickens is founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, one of the world's most successful energy-oriented investment firms, and author of the best-selling The First Billion is the Hardest. Pickens will offer open and candid responses to audience questions about America's dependence on imported oil while providing details on how the U.S. can dramatically enhance its energy security.
• A globally recognized advocate on water quality and policy, Alexandra Cousteau will open the conference and speak on the importance of conservation and sustainable management of water resources needed to preserve a healthy planet.

"WEEC will be a benefit to building and engineering professionals who strive to help reduce operating costs and improve their companies' bottom lines," said Albert Thumann, P.E., C.E.M., AEE's founder and executive director.  "The conference will feature the most sought-after thought leaders in energy management technologies for the federal, commercial, institutional, and industrial marketplaces.  Everyone is affected by energy efficiency; it's our job to make sure that we are communicating as much as we can to change the future now."

Energy Industry Creates Job Opportunities
The energy management field is big business, and unlike other fields, offers great career opportunities during this challenging economy.  Thumann noted that according to a recent AEE survey, nearly three-fourths of executives indicated a need for training and hiring strategies to meet growing demands for green collar jobs.  

"With job creation being a hot a topic on the federal agenda," Thumann noted, "smart companies and professionals are looking to AEE for ways to develop an alternative energy strategy and make their buildings and plants more energy efficient."    

The WEEC is hosted by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and is presented by AEE, featuring Platinum Sponsors ComEd and Trane, along with Silver Sponsor U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR. Other sponsors include the Alliance to Save Energy, ACORE, AFE, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), North America Power Partners, CLEAResult, 3M, CBRE, Jones Lang LaSalle, RTKL, Corning, Constellation Energy and ARCADIS.

To learn more about the 2011 World Energy Engineering Congress, visit www.energycongress.com.  For free tickets to the WEEC Expo, visit http://www.aeecenter.org/weecexpo.

Full conference program details are at http://www.energycongress.com/conference

About the Association of Energy Engineers
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) is your source for information and networking in the dynamic fields of energy engineering and energy management, renewable and alternative energy, power generation, energy services, sustainability and all related areas. As a growing professional association, AEE's overall strength is augmented by its strong membership base of over 14,000 professionals in 83 countries and its widely recognized energy certification programs. Its network of 70 local chapters, located throughout the U.S. and abroad, meets regularly to discuss issues of regional importance. Learn more at http://www.aeecenter.org.

For inquiries, contact Megan O'Neil, [email protected]

SOURCE Association of Energy Engineers