Energy for the Future Conference Draws Over 600 Attendees to Discuss New Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency

Melville, NY – August 15, 2007 – Starting on the day that marked the fourth anniversary of the 2003 Blackout that impacted over 50 million Americans in the Midwest and Northeast, over 600 attendees and 50 exhibitors turned out at a conference to share innovative developments and exchange ideas on energy technologies and policies to increase the reliability and durability of the region’s electric and gas infrastructure, and improve energy efficiency as well.

The conference entitled: Energy for the Future: Solving Industry Challenges through Technology and Innovation is sponsored by KeySpan, the Long Island Power Authority and National Grid. 

Conference keynoter, Rep. Steve Israel of Long Island, who serves as a Member of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Water, underscored his “Next Generation Energy Security Plan,” which is a “man-on-the-moon” federal commitment to catalyze the private sector to research, develop and produce “clean energy” technologies to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. 

The conference got under way Tuesday evening, August 14, with a networking reception and Technology Expo that featured some 50 exhibits.  At the reception leading players in the energy industry displayed their latest innovations, including robots to inspect and maintain facilities, fuel cell technologies, customer efficiency innovations superconducting cables to eliminate electric losses, electric fault mitigation technologies and advanced grid analysis software.

On Wednesday, August 15, the full-day conference consisted of panel discussions and presentations by national and international experts who shared ideas and perspectives on energy technology and innovation.  Sessions covered topics such as overcoming the barriers to innovation energy and efficiency in the home and business of the future, and advancing technologies to reduce energy’s impact on the environment. 

Key participants included Robert Catell, Chairman and CEO of KeySpan; Richard Kessel, Chief Executive Officer & President of LIPA; Humza Malik, Strategy and Corporate Development Director of National Grid; and Dr. Yacov Shamash, Vice President for Economic Development and Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at SUNY Stony Brook.   They were joined by a prestigious group of industry experts including Paul D. Tonko, former NYS Assemblyman and newly appointed President and CEO of NYSERDA; Ashok Gupta, Director of Air and Energy Programs for the Natural Resources Defense Council; Patricia Hoffman, Deputy Director of Research and Development for the US Department of Energy; and Clark Gellings, Vice President of the Electric Power Research Institute.

Energy and the environment are important global issues.  Emerging technologies and progressive policies have created opportunities to provide for the future energy needs in ways that address both environmental and economic concerns.  KeySpan, LIPA and National Grid are committed to fostering innovative solutions to these global issues in the communities they serve.

“I look forward to the new alliances, new ideas and innovative solutions that will emerge from this forum,” said Robert B. Catell, Chairman & CEO of KeySpan.  “Technology and innovation is critical to solving the global challenges our industry faces.  We need to continue to come together in a range of forums to debate issues, resolve barriers and find ways to leverage each other’s expertise and strengths.

“This kind of a conference,” said Mr. Catell, “also helps to identify the kinds of technological concepts and innovations that can be further developed and advanced through the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center, which will soon be constructed at SUNY Stony Brook.  The Center will help make Long Island a nexus for advanced energy technology research and development.”       

“We have major challenges ahead to meet our energy needs in an environmental and economic way,” said Humza Malik, Strategy and Corporate Development Director at National Grid. “By hosting this event together with KeySpan and LIPA, we are giving people an opportunity to discuss their innovative ideas to meet these challenges, as well as tackling the real issues we all face, such as climate change.” 

“Consistently delivering reliable, high-quality, and reasonably priced electricity to LIPA’s customers in the decades ahead will require the application of new and innovative technologies to the region’s power grid,” said Richard M. Kessel, LIPA’s CEO/President.  “We’ve invested over $2.5 billion in the last nine years to make LIPA’s Transmission and

Distribution System the most reliable overhead system in the State.  As we move forward we must continue to utilize the most advanced technologies possible, such as SuperConducting cable technology, to help ensure that our high-tech economy and life style on Long Island can be sustained.”

“It is inspiring to see the Long Island business and academic community come together to discuss, in a variety of cooperative formats, technology and innovation as it relates to the critical subject of energy,” said Yacov Shamash, Vice President for Economic Development and Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at SUNY Stony Brook.  “The Energy for the Future Conference is an excellent example of this.  We hope the conference will forge new strategic partnerships that will increase the role Long Island plays in international Energy research and innovation.”

For more information on the event, including an agenda and speakers list, please go to www.forum4energy.com.

About KeySpan:

A member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, KeySpan Corporation (NYSE:KSE) is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast United States, operating regulated gas utilities in New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, serving 2.6 million customers. These customer-focused businesses are complemented by a portfolio of service companies which offer energy-related products, services and solutions to homes and businesses. KeySpan is also the largest electric generator in New York State. The Company owns approximately 6,650 megawatts of generating capacity, providing power to 1.1 million customers of the Long Island Power Authority on Long Island and supplying approximately 25 percent of New York City’s capacity needs. In addition to these assets, KeySpan has strategic investments in pipeline transportation, distribution and storage. KeySpan has headquarters in Brooklyn, New England and Long Island. For more information, visit KeySpan’s web site at www.keyspanenergy.com.

About National Grid:

National Grid is an international energy delivery business with principal activities in the regulated electricity and natural gas industries. In the U.S., National Grid distributes electricity to approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island and natural gas to approximately 569,000 customers in New York and 245,000 customers in Rhode Island.

The company owns the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and operates the system across Great Britain. It also owns and operates the high-pressure gas transmission system in Britain and, through its natural gas distribution business serves over 11 million customers in homes and businesses in Britain. In addition, it has a number of businesses operating in related areas such as LNG importation, land remediation, metering and interconnectors. For more information, visit National Grid’s web site at www.nationalgrid.com.

About LIPA:

LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens.  LIPA is the 3rd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of customers served and the 6th largest in terms of electricity delivered.  In 2006, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State in all three major reliability categories.  LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org.

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LIPA Contact Information:
Media Relations: (516) 222-7700
Media Pager: (516) 525-LIPA
media.relations@lipower.org