The Maui News

Guillermo “Gil” Penalosa, head of an internationally recognized nonprofit organization focusing on creating great cities, will be the keynote speaker at the 2017 Maui Energy Conference set for March 22 to 24 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Penalosa is founder and chairman of the board of 8 80 Cities, based in Canada. The organization aims to create a great city for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, effectively a city for all people.

Penalosa is chairman at World Urban Parks and a senior adviser to Children & Nature, Vision Zero Network and America Walks. He advises decision-makers and communities on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone regardless of age, gender and social, economic or ethnic background, an announcement said.

Also speaking will be Carol Sim, environmental affairs director at Alaska Airlines. The company has been a leader in the airline industry to use alternative jet fuel, the announcement said.

In November, Alaska Airlines flew the world’s first commercial flight using a new sustainable alternative jet fuel made from forest residuals.

Sim will be on the panel on Innovations in Transportation. It will examine what steps can be taken to create and facilitate a resilient transportation sector.

Another scheduled speaker is Michelle Wyman, executive director of the National Council for Science and the Environment, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

She has worked on energy and environmental policy issues with states and local governments for more than 15 years. She developed strategic and tactical solutions to their energy planning, climate mitigation and adaptation challenges.

The conference will feature 15-minute presentations of case studies. They will focus on technology such as battery storage and lowering operating costs through energy efficiency.

For more information, go to www.mauienergyconference

.com.

The event is hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board. It covers topics from electricity and gas to transportation and water delivery systems.