The Next Big Thing for Pittsburgh - Energy & Environment Week Program Next April Will Draw Foreign Companies and More Global Media

In April 2010, the Energy & Environment Week trade show in Pittsburgh will bring together hundreds of European companies with hundreds more American firms in the fields of bioenergy, waste and recycling, alternative vehicle fuels and energy efficiency, giving Pittsburgh another chance to showcase its strengths to a world audience.

The conference will attract thousands of researchers, entrepreneurs, potential investors, government officials and the international media to see what Pittsburgh has to offer in the fields of clean/green technology and design, energy research and advanced energy-related manufacturing.

Scheduled for April 12-16, 2010 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Energy & Environment Week will help educate a wide range of audiences about the benefits and challenges of clean technologies, including municipalities, the farm economy, the food industry, the manufacturing and processing sector, investors, the media, and more.

“We plan to have five days full of events such as site tours to projects in the Greater Pittsburgh region, the alternative fuel vehicle ride and drive, many interactive conference sessions and workshops, and a large technology exhibition,” planners said.

The conference’s main organizer is German consulting and trade show marketing company Freesen & Partner GmbH.

For Managing Director Ines Freesen, the similarities between Pittsburgh and Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr Valley, where her company is based, are evident and made for a good fit with the trade show’s focus. Both are formerly steel and coal industry heavy regions whose economies took a serious hit in the 1980s.

“Now, Pittsburgh and the Rhine-Ruhr Valley have become leaders in greening the landscape and in creating a renewable energy industry,” Freesen said. “This development plays nicely with the theme of our event as it reflects how the global economy is changing towards a cleaner, greener way of doing business.”

There is an ongoing cooperation between Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh in particular, and the state of North-Rhine Westphalia to foster technology exchange and create business opportunities for companies in both countries, according to Freesen. “The focus of this agreement is on renewables and a number of projects with American-German participation are already underway,” she said.

The trade show itself can serve as an example in efficiency, conservation and recycling. The trade show’s home, Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center, is the first convention center to receive Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. And Freesen’s local partner in Pittsburgh, Stetson Convention Services uses recycled and biodegradable products and even has indoor forklifts powered by natural gas.

Freesen is optimistic that the recently completed Pittsburgh Summit will set the stage for events like Energy & Environment Week. “We certainly hope that the G-20 will set the right mood for a wide-spread discussion on the global energy challenge can be met, and that the world will regard Pittsburgh as a leader in this field. A whole new and still rapidly growing industry has been created in the last decade. This is something we should be proud of and capitalize on.”

More information at www.ee-week.com. READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Filmmakers & Robert Morris Host Italian Students Whose School Was Damaged in Earthquake

Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Robert Morris University have welcomed a total of six Italian students whose schools were severely damaged in the recent earthquake that affected the Abruzzo region.

The students at the Filmmakers are Juri Fantigrossi, Michele Giacardi, Antonio Paolucci and Flavia Tiberi. All are from L’Accademia dell’ Immagine in L’Aquila, Italy.

Studying at Robert Morris are Berardo Artieri and Luca Lugini, who were studying engineering and computer science at the University of L'Aquila.

Pittsburgh Filmmakers discounted the students' tuition for the semester, which is being paid by UPMC, which originated this arrangement as part of its ongoing relationship with Italy.

Some scholarship support has also come from the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of the Provost to make this project possible. Additional funds are being raised by local Italians and Italian-Americans to cover board, supplies, travel, and other aspects of the students’ routine expenses.

Robert Morris offered to cover tuition for fall and spring semesters, about $20,000 each. More money was raised to pay for room and board, textbooks, airplane tickets and living expenses. RMU said it plans to continue fundraising efforts this fall with a picnic and golf tournament. Read more about the Italian students at RMU by CLICKING HERE.

The film students have a tentative agreement with RAI, the Italian television network, to broadcast work they will be making here. They were scheduled to meet with RAI’s Piero DiPasquale, in town for the G-20 Summit, for more details and guidance. Each student is enrolled in four classes this fall at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, plus one at Pitt.

See the Pittsburgh Filmmakers October Schedule at www.pghfilmmakers.org/exhibition/film_imgs/oct09cal.pdf READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Middle East Institute Program to Highlight Energy, Environment Links with Gulf States Oct. 13-14

A conference hosted Oct. 13-14 by the Pittsburgh Middle East Institute will bring together distinguished guests from the Persian Gulf States and corporate leaders from the Pittsburgh region to discuss innovations in energy sustainability and green technologies.

Titled "Building the Green City: Energy Sustainability and Green Technology," the conference will feature CNN and Newsweek’s Fareed Zakaria, and former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, as well as Omani Secretary-General Badr Hamad Hamood Albusaidi.

The conference builds on the momentum achieved by the recent Pittsburgh G-20 Summit in carrying out the PMEI's mission of “forging lasting ties between Pittsburgh and the Middle East" through dynamic business, educational, and cultural exchanges.

"If you’re considering business opportunities in the Middle East or are an avid follower of foreign policy news and events, you won’t want to miss this year’s extraordinary lineup," PMEI boasts.

For more details on the PMEI conference, including schedules and ticket order information, go to http://pittsburghmideastinstitute.org/2009-conference/. READ FULL ARTICLE

President Obama Calls G-20 Big Success; Thanks City for Setting Example for Rest of the World at Close of Summit

President Barack Obama said the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit, which concluded this afternoon, was successful in establishing goals to continue the global recovery.

He started his closing press conference (for which GlobalPittsburgh had a front row seat) with a message of thanks to the people of Pittsburgh for being "extraordinary hosts."

Obama said he was told by several of the world leaders who joined him for the two-day meeting that the city had come very far since previous visits, in some cases decades ago.

"They were so impressed with the revitalization of the city," he said. "And a number of them remarked on the fact that it pointed to lessons they could take away in revitalizing manufacturing towns in their own home countries. Thank all of you for your great hospitality."

Obama said Pittsburgh is an example for the world as it recovers from economic hardship.

"Pittsburgh was a perfect venue for this work," he said. "This city has known its share of hard times as older industries like steel could no longer grow. But Pittsburgh picked itself up, dusted itself off and is making the transition to job-creating industries of the future, from biotechnology to clean energy.

"It serves as a model for turning the page to a 21st century economy, and a reminder that the key to our further prosperity lies not just in New York or Los Angeles or Washington, but in places like Pittsburgh."

Asked about protesters outside the Convention Center, Obama had this response:

"Let's keep things in perspective," he said. "For the people of Pittsburgh, if you have looked any of the other of summits that took place: in London, you had hundreds of thousands of people on the streets. In most of these summits there has been a much more tumultuous response. I think the mayor and the county executive and all the people of Pittsburgh deserve extraordinary credit for having managed what is a very tranquil G-20 summit.

"I think that many of the protests are just directed generically at capitalism and they object to the existing global financial system, they object to free markets.

"One of the great things about the United States is you can speak your mind, you can protest. That's part of our tradition.

"But I fundamentally disagree with the view that the free market is the source of all ills. Ironically if they'd been paying attention to what had been taking place inside the summit itself, what they would have heard was a strong recognition from the most diverse collection of leaders in history that that it is important to make sure that the market is working for ordinary people; that government has a role in regulating the market in ways that don't cause the kinds of crisis that we've just been living through; that our emphasis has to be on more balanced growth and that includes making sure that growth is bottom-up, and workers, ordinary people are able to pay the bills, make a decent living send their children to college; and that the more we focus how the least of these are doing, the better off all of us are going to be.

"That principle was embodied in the communiqué that was issued. I would recommend those who were out their protesting if they were really interested in knowing what was taking place in her that they read the communiqué that was issued."

Here's the link to the final communique from the G-20 leaders - http://www.pittsburghsummit.gov/mediacenter/129639.htm

Here's another link to a New York Times article talking about what really happened around that magnificent Summit table: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/world/26summit.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1253966609-o25Y2T6JADZB1a35Fv7TQA READ FULL ARTICLE

S. Korean Automaker CT&T to Establish Assembly & Distribution Operations in Pittsburgh, Create 200 Jobs; Similar Facilities Planned for Philadelphia

One of the world’s leading companies in electric vehicle technologies, CT&T of South Korea, intends to open two production and distribution facilities in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and create up to 400 jobs in the process, Gov. Ed Rendell announced today.

"This is a win-win-win for the commonwealth," Rendell said. "With consumers opting for more fuel efficient vehicles and automobile manufacturers working to meet new fuel economy standards, electric vehicles represent a growing market opportunity."

Rendell made the announcement at Carnegie Mellon University, which is working to develop new technologies that can be used in electric vehicles, such as lithium batteries, fuel cells, electric motors for improved efficiency and output, and fast electric charging stations that can recharge a battery in minutes as opposed to 2 hours.

CT&T makes low- and mid-speed, short-distance “neighborhood electric vehicles” that pass crash tests required for regular passenger cars. The vehicles sell for about $12,000.

"It’s no secret that many of the world’s large automotive manufacturers are developing plug-in electric vehicles, so the fact that CT&T has chosen Pennsylvania is very exciting news for us, because it gives us an early presence in a promising market," Rendell said.

The company’s decision, the Governor noted, was based in no small part on the state’s investments in its economy and its network of advanced technology companies and innovative universities.

"There are other benefits to having a company like CT&T choose Pennsylvania," Rendell added. “CT&T’s electric vehicles will create new employment opportunities and spur the need for new investments in our economy that will upgrade our infrastructure and develop exciting new technologies.”

As the demand for electric vehicles grows, the Governor said, companies and universities like CMU will be called upon to develop more efficient and economical batteries, while the nation’s electrical infrastructure will need to be upgraded to accommodate vehicles in need of a recharge.

The Governor noted that the company’s interest in Pennsylvania resulted from the state’s presence in Seoul, South Korea, which was part of his World Trade PA initiative. He also said that the Governor’s Action Team is working to establish a business assistance package that will help finalize the company’s move to Pennsylvania.

“We are looking forward to becoming a contributing part of Pennsylvania’s bold moves to become a leader in green transportation and the creation of green technology jobs,” said CT&T President Young Gi Lee. “Our plans are to locate the first regional assembly and sales facility in the northeast -- in Pennsylvania. We feel our efforts here will be a showcase for other states and municipalities throughout the United States.”

The company is focusing on sites on the Delaware River in Philadelphia for its initial Pennsylvania location.

Company executives visited five prospective sites in the Pittsburgh region yesterday, including two within the city. While in Pittsburgh, CT&T executives also met with experts in battery and fuel technology from CMU, which is engaged in a range of research initiatives to support the growth and development of electric vehicle technology.

CT&T could open a third assembly and sales facility elsewhere in the state at a future date.

Lee said the company’s long-term business plan calls for 40 regional assembly and sales systems in North America.

CT&T has been exporting to China, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and the United States since 2005. The company says cities with large municipal fleets offer a considerable initial market opportunity, with the electric car as a low-cost option for parking authorities, parks and recreation departments, and similar agencies with short-distance, low-speed vehicle needs. CT&T has a contract to supply 4,000 neighborhood electric vehicles to California police organizations, which will use them as downtown parking supervision vehicles.

For information on the Governor’s Action Team and other Department of Community and Economic Development initiatives, visit www.NewPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972. READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh G-20 Summit Day Two Starts Off With a Bang - Obama Challenges Iran Over Secret Nuclear Fuel Plant

President Obama launched Day Two of the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit by joining the leaders of France and Great Britain in strongly criticizing Iran for building a secret underground plant to produce nuclear fuel and hiding it from international weapons inspectors.

Speaking to reporters in Pittsburgh, Obama said the Iranian nuclear fuel production activity "is inconsistent with a peaceful (nuclear) program. Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow."

French President Nicholas Sarkozy, appearing with the President, said Iran had two months to comply with international demands or face increased sanctions.

"The level of deception by the Iranian government, and the scale of what we believe is the breach of international commitments, will shock and anger the entire international community," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, standing next to Obama. "The international community has no choice today but to draw a line in the sand."

9:30 a.m. - The Obama-Sarkozy-Brown press conference got the Friday session off to a quick start after a relatively peaceful Day One. The media checkpoint at Mellon Arena was far more crowded this morning, full of international media speaking in many languages. The process took a little longer than Day One, but with equal calm and professionalism.

The atmosphere in the media center is noticeably more lively, as reporters anticipate meetings, briefings and press conferences over the course of the day. President Obama is expected to make his announcement at the close of the plenary session, probably around 3 p.m.

11:15 – Interrupting the low-level chatter in the international media center was a flash of camera lights and a cluster of reporters. Brazil’s Ambassador to the United States Antônio Patriota, and main international advisor for the president of Brazil, Marco Aurelio Garcia, had arrived to answer questions, in Spanish and Portuguese, about the world economy and the breaking story of the Iran nuclear production program.

Members of the world media say they are impressed with what they have seen of Pittsburgh. During this morning's ride to the Convention Center from the media screening area at Mellon Arena, Steve Holland of the Reuters Washington Bureau was engaged in conversation by Andy Masich, Heinz History Center President & CEO.

"It's a really nice town," Holland said. "You've done a really nice job."

Holland's impressions reflect that of many other international reporters in the past few days.

Liu Li of the Shanghai Oriental Morning Post has spent the past week in Pittsburgh, interviewing many companies, organizations and members of the local Chinese community. She said she loves the trees and the parks and the rivers. "And the people are so friendly!" READ FULL ARTICLE

Inside the Convention Center for Day One of the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit - Getting Off to a Slow Start

Here's a running account of today's activities inside (and outside) the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on the first day of the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit.

5 p.m. - Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says during a White House G-20 briefing that since economic and environmental challenges know no borders, then solutions must be found through global cooperation. His message reflected President Obama's strong statements about the importance of global cooperation.

"The challenges we face today of course are not confined to our borders - they don't respect national borders," Geithner said. "And nor can the solution come from individual countries acting on their own. Financial risk and leverage is going to flow to where the rules are most lax, but the consequences of failure will be felt globally.

"To achieve a more stable financial system, we need strong reforms here in this country, but in other countries around the world. If we want more rapid growth here and lower unemployment, we need more rapid growth outside the United States. For American companies to be able to be export -- other countries to buy our exports, when our country exports more goods, employment will rise here. We're in this together. And that's why cooperation in the G-20 is so important to the interest of Americans."

Big screens around the international press center continue to show live feeds of visiting dignitaries descending the steps of their official jets and also local news footage of protesters engulfed in tear gas. Yup, it's the G-20.

3:30 p.m. - We're getting word simultaneously (via Twitter) that President Obama has just landed on Air Force One at Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, and that protesters marching from Lawrenceville without a permit are being sprayed with tear gas while they turn over dumpsters. This is inside the international media center, where reporters are still watching Bloomberg TV on the big screen.

3 p.m. - The international press corps continues to roll in to the Convention Center, and now far outnumber the locals, but still no sign of the dignitaries. We were told that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and the Japanese finance minister were doing photo opps in the house earlier, but only for a selection of pool photographers.

Speaking of media pools, special credentials are required for just about everything - tonight's working dinner at Phipps Conservatory and the group photo of world leaders, all plenary sessions, tomorrow's events for spouses at the Warhol Museum and CAPA, and tomorrow night's gathering at Teresa Heinz Kerry's estate. The good news is that no additional credentials are required for President Obama's press conference scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.

The international media center has no windows, so the second level is where many of us have congregated. While there is no internet access, there is a nice view, and many seemed to be enjoying a bit to eat from the swanky (and expensive) concession stand.

11:15 a.m. - Not much of a crowd yet inside the Convention Center. Mayor Ravenstahl gets interviewed by foreign TV station (left). Media center just getting warmed up.

11 a.m. - After clearing media security at Mellon Arena, arrived at the Convention Center with a bus half-full of media types. Judging by overheard accents and conversations, about two-thirds of those on my bus were local, including KDKA's Jon Delano and several camera crews. The driver was not local, and needed directions from the on-board security officer to reach our destination.

Media screening included walking through an airport-like metal detector where the security team joked about keeping my lunch. I was surprised when they allowed me to keep my ham sandwich and two cans of Diet Dr. Pepper.

Unlike a trip through airport security, my backpack was set in a line with everyone else's gear and meticulously searched, item-by-item, by a security officer. It was then set back on the ground and sniffed by a dog that had been sleeping quietly nearby. All very efficient and very professional. Friendly, even. This is not the TSA.

These and other photos can be viewed at the GlobalPittsburgh Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/globalpittsburgh/. READ FULL ARTICLE