Actress will speak at energy summit in Palm Springs Friday

Actress and activist Daryl Hannah will speak at the fifth annual Southern California Energy Summit Friday.

The theme of the conference at the Palm Springs Convention Center is “Powering a Regional Clean Energy Economy.”

Educational sessions, keynote presentations, panel discussions and an exhibit hall for “green” technology and vehicles are planned.

The goal is to bring together people in industry, government and education to “foster clean energy opportunities and a create a sustainable economy with an emphasis on economic development and green jobs,” according to spokesman Josh Zipperman.

Other speakers besides Hannah include Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, California Bureau of Land Management Director Jim Kenna, California Public Utilities Commissioner Mike Florio, California Independent System Operator Governor Angelina Galiteva and California Energy Commission commissioners Karen Douglas and David Hochschild.

Topics include the future of federal and state clean energy policy and initiatives, green economic development and job creation, expanding regional clean transportation, the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, sustainable communities, renewable energy opportunities at the Salton Sea and the role of oil and natural gas in renewable energy.

To register, or for more information, go to www.socalenergysummit.org .