Moderator:
Peter Passell, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute; Editor, The Milken Institute Review

Economists across the political spectrum have long argued that the least costly, least intrusive way to contain greenhouse gases is to charge emitters for the privilege and let the market decide how to cut back. But market-friendly fixes have been rejected by the rapidly growing economies of the developing world and are off the political agenda in the United States. This panel will weigh the prospects for non-market initiatives to contain emissions - everything from subsidizing new emissions-sparing technologies to mandating the use of renewable energy and efficient-efficient vehicles. It will also debate the practicality of an entirely different approach to combating global warming: technology for deflecting solar energy before it heats the atmosphere, thereby offsetting the impact of growing concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Moderator:
Harold Wright, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Rentech Inc.

Because there are such abundant reserves, natural gas prices have been mired in the doldrums, sitting out the latest boom in commodities. But are investors' fortunes about to change? Moving toward natural gas seems to be a no-brainer, since coal plants contribute to global warming, and recent world events have underlined the safety risks and supply vulnerabilities of oil and nuclear energy. With the global demand for energy expected to grow by double digits in coming decades, analysts are anticipating a new boom in gas consumption. But extraction from shale is not without its own environmental issues. Can these be resolved so that public support for natural gas extraction remains strong? Where are the most ambitious development projects taking shape around the world? What are the investment risks? Will currently depressed prices slow the industry's expansion? This panel will clarify what lies ahead for natural gas.

Moderator:
Ralph Eads, Chairman, Energy Investment Banking, Jefferies & Co. Inc.

Here we go again . . . unrest erupts in the Middle East and the insecurity of our energy supply is laid bare. The U.S. military continues to be spread thin by the task of protecting global energy supply lines. And political upheaval in petroleum-exporting countries is not the only wild card: The Deepwater Horizon spill underlined the risks of offshore drilling, while the antiquated electrical grid continues to leave parts of the U.S. vulnerable to blackouts. The crisis in Japan may have dashed prospects for nuclear energy assuming a greater role in the nation's energy portfolio. This panel will explore solutions for delivering a safer and more secure flow of energy that can reliably power America's economy.

Moderator:
Ray Wood, Head, Global Alternative Energy, Credit Suisse

There's a clear consensus that it's time for a greater push toward renewable energy. But some nations have been much faster out of the gate than others. What models are evolving in different parts of the world? Here in the U.S., shale gas has emerged as a cheap and relatively clean resource, but environmental concerns are mounting; meantime, renewables remain dependent on government subsidies. China has focused on building large, competitive producers, while the U.S. has concentrated more on making deployment more cost effective for end users. Europeans, suffering through fiscal challenges, are increasingly resentful of high prices. Who will solidify leadership in this sector? Which regions and technologies look most promising to investors? Which are closest to achieving maturity and critical mass?

Moderator:
Martha Amram, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute; CEO, Ennovationz

To enhance its energy security, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and strengthen its economy, the U.S. needs to find and develop new energy sources. But most of the payoff for that investment will be over the long term. Fossil fuels will remain a substantial portion of our energy mix for the next few decades - and that means energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest and cleanest solution to implement now. It's the low-hanging fruit, and the most sensible place to start changing our patterns of energy use. This panel of experts will examine how we can jumpstart a major push for energy efficiency, including the new technologies, practices and behavior changes that will have a quick impact.

Moderator:
James McDermott, Managing Partner, US Renewables Group

With oil prices spiking and concern over climate change growing, biofuels hold tremendous appeal. But they must overcome considerable hurdles. Further process and technology refinements are needed to ensure that biofuels make a significant dent in carbon emissions while avoiding other negative environmental impacts. Beyond the extensive R&D effort required, it will also be necessary to build a network of cutting-edge processing plants and to open up distribution and retail channels. Taking this idea to scale will call for a vast infusion of capital. This panel will discuss the latest scientific and commercialization efforts, including the exciting potential of fuels like algae-based biodiesel. How close is this fledgling industry to reaching maturity? What do policymakers and investors need to know?

Moderator:
Tim Shanahan, Director, Energy and Minerals Institute, University of Western Australia

As Asia's population climbs and a vast new middle class increases its consumption, demand for hydrocarbons is soaring. Nuclear power was long considered fundamental to Asia's growth, but Japan's disaster will put pressure on governments to diversify away from it. Oil will remain part of the energy mix for years to come, but environmental realities mean that natural gas will eventually account for a greater slice of the pie. Sitting in the continent's backyard are huge gas reserves with the potential to catapult Australia ahead of Qatar as the world's biggest supplier of LNG. With the Asian market in mind, international energy companies are spending billions developing natural-gas terminals on the Australian coastline. Is gas the Asian fuel of the future? Are Asian countries nimble enough to retool their energy strategies so that economic growth can continue unabated?

Moderator:
Joel Kurtzman, Senior Fellow; Executive Director, Center for a Sustainable Energy Future, Milken Institute

Not long ago, there was talk of a "nuclear renaissance." Even committed environmentalists were willing to consider nuclear as an alternative to coal. But in the wake of Japan's disaster, governments around the world are suddenly freezing or reviewing their plans. Public fears are running high, and Europe stands divided on the issue. After the Fukushima Daiichi incident, panicked Chinese citizens raced to buy iodized salt and went online to oppose the government's plans to build dozens of plants. But Turkey and Indonesia - both located in seismically active regions - are forging ahead. Do emerging nations have the experienced engineers and regulatory regimes in place to safely expand their nuclear capacities? Here in the United States, New York's governor favors closing the Indian Point plant, while the Energy Department has reaffirmed that its loan guarantee program will continue to finance nuclear projects. Many questions remain, including how to dispose of spent fuel, whether new standards are needed and whether some existing plants should be shut down. What's the future of nuclear energy after the tragedy in Japan?

Moderator:
Joel Kurtzman, Senior Fellow; Executive Director, Center for a Sustainable Energy Future, Milken Institute

For reasons of security, climate and economics, the world's dependence on a narrow range of fuels is not tenable in the long run. And yet, over the last hundred years, more than $100 trillion has been invested in the status quo - oil fields, pipelines, refineries, transportation hubs, and vast fleets of cars, trucks and airplanes. So rather than scrapping the world's highly resilient, extremely reliable energy infrastructure, can some of it be repurposed to deliver other fuels? Can natural gas, ethanol and electricity augment the system we've put in place without requiring everybody to trade in their cars or requiring industry to replace trillions of dollars worth of investment? This panel will investigate how the current system can be refocused (rather than be replaced) to accommodate the needs of the future.

Moderator:
Joel Kurtzman, Senior Fellow; Executive Director, Center for a Sustainable Energy Future, Milken Institute

In the wake of the Great Recession, new programs were put in place to make investing in green energy more attractive. Investment tax credits, outright grants, renewable fuel requirements, and solar mandates in states like New Jersey and Massachusetts have been designed to lure investment dollars into long-term projects. Are investors responding? If so, what are they doing? This roundtable will discuss where the money is going and where the best returns are likely to be found.

Moderator:
Betsy Zeidman, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute; Director, Compass Program, Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights

Soaring gasoline prices are sparking renewed investor interest in alternative fuels. But energy efficiency is clearly the hottest trend for 2011, with others being energy products tied to cloud computing and building controls. Scheduling technologies, power electronics and smart grid-oriented products are also on the radar. With investment approaching pre-recession levels, which technologies will win or lose? How will new policies and financing options impact development? Some experts predict a return to early-stage venture investing, as well as greater competition for solar and wind from natural gas. Will this be the year of the IPO? Will the Chinese market be a game-changer for the industry? What will be the near-term effects of the real or perceived scarcity of oil, rare earth elements and other commodities?