San Jose, CA ----        A second regional energy summit to focus on local government and business efforts for practical solutions to meet Silicon Valley energy needs will be held on Friday, May 4.

The half-day summit will provide an opportunity for Santa Clara County elected officials from local government and Silicon Valley industry and community leaders to share critical information about steps taken since the first Silicon Valley regional energy summit in March.

In addition to an urgent conservation message to help prevent blackouts this summer, the summit will review ongoing legislative efforts to address the California energy crisis, as well as progress toward new energy generation.

The energy summit will be structured to enable interactive discussion with members of the public to gain their ideas, suggestions, and input on Silicon Valley’s energy challenge. The summit, which starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at noon, will be held at Synopsys, Inc. in Sunnyvale. Pre-registration is required. [Energy Summit agenda is attached.]

Summit co-chairs again will be San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Jim Beall, and Dr. James Woody, President of Roche Pharmaceuticals R&D in Palo Alto and Chairman of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group.

 “Our communities and businesses have made real progress for practical solutions to help meet the critical energy needs of Silicon Valley, for both this year and for the future,” said San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales. “We continue to show the way for the rest of California how our region can work together to develop effective answers on complex and difficult issues such as energy.”

“May and June will be crucial months,” said Board of Supervisors Chairperson Jim Beall. “We hope to walk away from this summit with immediate and effective guidelines on how everyone can conserve energy and save on their energy bills.  We especially need to take immediate steps to protect seniors and those needy families who have difficulty paying for the increasing cost of energy.”

The Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, which represents 190 of the valley’s most respected employers, will provide updates regarding the Group’s partnerships and programs that are contributing to energy conservation, transmission, and generation solutions in Silicon Valley.

“This is not a drill,” said Dr. James Woody, Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group Board Chairman and President of Roche Pharmaceuticals in Palo Alto.  “The impacts of rolling blackouts this summer could be devastating to Silicon Valley, the state’s economy, and the lives of all our residents.  That’s why this summit will focus on immediate steps that we can employ to conserve.”

The second regional energy summit will be held at Synopsys, Inc., 455 N. Mary Avenue, Building 2, Sunnyvale.  The summit is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required due to limited space.  For public pre-registration, call (408) 299-3924 by Wednesday, May 2 at 5:00 p.m.