U.S. Under Secretary for Energy to Speak at Green Truck Summit

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Under Secretary for Energy Kristina Johnson, Ph.D., will deliver the keynote address at the Green Truck Summit in St. Louis on March 9. Johnson, who is responsible for Department of Energy (DOE) programs in energy efficiency, renewable energy, environmental management, fossil energy, nuclear energy, and energy reliability, will speak on "U.S. Opportunities for Increasing Commercial Truck Productivity."

Johnson will be welcomed to the podium by U.S. Representative Gary Peters (MI), who is receiving the Green Truck Leadership Award at the event. Peters is the author of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009 (H.R. 3246), which contains provisions to benefit organizations that partner with the DOE to design and build the next generation of fuel-efficient commercial trucks. This legislation passed the House in September, and companion legislation is currently pending in the Senate.

The Green Truck Summit is the leading educational conference addressing "green" technology for work trucks, including hybrid and alternative fuels. It is held March 9 and 10 in conjunction with The Work Truck Show®, North America's largest work truck event, at America's Center in St. Louis. The Work Truck Show runs March 10-12. It is produced annually by the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), which jointly produces and manages the Green Truck Summit with CALSTART.

Johnson is internationally recognized for her academic and engineering achievements. She holds 129 U.S. and international patents and patents pending. She has received a number of awards, including the John Fritz Medal, widely considered the highest award in the engineering profession. In addition to her extensive academic career, Johnson also helped found several companies, including ColorLink, Inc., SouthEast Techinventures, and Unyos.

"We are delighted to have a keynote speaker of Dr. Johnson's caliber at the Green Truck Summit," says Jim Carney, NTEA executive director. "Our attendees are sure to benefit from the top-level insights she and Congressman Peters can provide into what is happening in Washington that will impact companies manufacturing and using hybrid and alternative fuel work trucks today and into the future."

For more information and to register for the Green Truck Summit, visit www.ntea.com or call 1-800-441-NTEA (6832).

About the NTEA

Established in 1964, the NTEA is the leading association supporting the $101 billion commercial truck and trailer industry. The Association currently represents nearly 1,600 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, bodies, equipment, trailers and accessories. The Association maintains its administrative headquarters in suburban Detroit and a government relations office in Washington, DC.

About CALSTART

CALSTART is North America's leading advanced transportation technologies consortium. It is a participant-supported organization of more than 140 firms and organizations worldwide, dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs and improves energy efficiency. CALSTART serves as a strategic broker to spur advanced transportation technologies, fuels, systems and the companies that make them. For more information about CALSTART, visit www.calstart.org or call (626) 744-5600.

SOURCE National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA)