Gina McCarthy, EPA
Gina McCarthy, the administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency, will deliver opening remarks at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s BuildingEnergy 14 conference on March 5 in Boston.
McCarthy, who has been a central player in federal development of greenhouse gas emissions rules, will speak on upcoming EPA policies and their effect on the building industry.
“Administrator McCarthy has played, and continues to play, a critical role in helping to ensure that we are prepared to face climate change and its attendant consequences in the Northeast. We are delighted to welcome her back to Boston to speak at BuildingEnergy this year,” said Jennifer Marrapese, NESEA executive director.
Before to joining the EPA in 2009, McCarthy was well-known for her work guiding and shaping New England energy policy. McCarthy served as an environmental advisor to five Massachusetts governors. She also served as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection from 2004 to 2009. She joined the EPA in 2009 and became head of the agency in July 2013.
During her tenure, she has repeatedly emphasized the need for climate resilience and environmental decisions that make sound economic sense, and has challenged government agencies and private citizens to take action. McCarthy has recently said, “The costs of ignoring the weather and health risks associated with climate change are too great, not to mention the potential savings that can be achieved by reducing carbon emissions.”
For nearly 40 years, NESEA and its members have been working towards creating a resilient, low carbon future by educating a multidisciplinary group of practitioners on best practices in efficiency and sustainability.
BuildingEnergy is the region’s oldest, most cross-disciplinary conference and trade show for renewable energy and high performance building professionals. Held annually at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, this event attracts 3100 attendees and 130 exhibitors for three days of intense learning and networking. The 2014 conference is being held at the Seaport World Trade Center March 4-6. McCarthy’s talk will begin at 9:30 a.m., March 5.
The BuildingEnergy conference also will offer educational sessions on resilient cities, energy policy, energy distribution, and using environmentally responsible materials in buildings. NESEA will award its annual $10,000 Zero Net Energy Award to a building project that demonstrates one year of zero net energy use or net-positive energy production.
Information about BuildingEnergy 14 is here and about NESEA here.
