Energy Efficiency is Focus of 2010 Development District Association of Appalachia Conference

WASHINGTON, January 7, 2010—The Development District Association of Appalachia's 2010 annual training conference will highlight the role Appalachia's local development districts (LDDs) can play in the development of energy-efficiency efforts that can help communities create jobs and save on energy costs.

The conference, "Leading the Charge for an Energy-Efficient Appalachia: What LDDs Can Do to Help Their Communities," will be held February 28–March 2, 2010, in Arlington, Virginia. Conference sessions will provide the latest information on policy impacting energy-efficiency efforts, and examples of local projects that showcase effective energy savings for local governments, businesses, and homeowners.

Recent research by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance has found that establishing bold energy-efficiency initiatives in Appalachia could significantly cut energy consumption, resulting not only in substantial cost savings (an estimated $21.4 billion per year by 2030), but also in the creation of more than 75,000 jobs over the next 20 years.

The Development District Association of Appalachia is a public, nonprofit organization made up of Appalachia's 73 multicounty planning and development districts. Its members work closely with the Appalachian Regional Commission, other federal and state agencies, and local residents to identify and address economic development needs and opportunities in their communities.

More information on the conference is available at www.arc.gov and at www.ddaa-ldd.org.