State energy conference features speakers on wind energy, hydro-fracking and BP oil spill

Experts on North Carolina's potential for wind energy, shale gas and other emerging energy sources will speak today and Wednesday at the state's annual sustainable energy conference in Raleigh.

The confab, being held at the McKimmon Center on the campus of N.C. State University, spans two days of speakers and panels on smart grids, plug-in electric cars, experimental fuels and the green economy workforce.

Speakers will include David Shindle of Iberdrola Renewables, a Spanish wind developer that's proposing a 300-megawatt wind farm in Eastern North Carolina.

Also speaking will be Vik Rao, executive director of the Research Triangle Energy Consortium, about the benefits of extracting natural gas from prehistoric shale formations by using two controversial technologies: horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking"). Rao is a former executive with Halliburton, the giant energy developer that is on the forefront of the nation's fracking industry.

Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham of Florida is the luncheon speaker Wendesday. Graham was co-chair of the federal commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

Attendance fees are $159 for private sector, industry and commercial business workers. The fee is $89 for students and employees of nonprofits, universities and government agencies.