Energy Secretary Moniz to headline Reid energy summit

WASHINGTON – U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will headline the next National Clean Energy Summit that has turned into an established gathering in Las Vegas for renewable energy advocates, organizers confirmed Tuesday.

The eighth annual green power conference hosted by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is set for Aug. 24 at the Mandalay Bay Resort. The Senate Democratic leader founded the event and has attracted top political and business leaders to the daylong meeting that promotes advances in energy and energy efficiency.

“Discussions like those that take place during the summit have been vital to achieving the rapid expansion of clean energy and innovation in this nation and beyond,” Reid said in a statement.

Reid staff confirmed that Moniz would be the headline speaker. Other participants will be announced later, they said.

Last year’s headline speaker was Hillary Clinton. Moniz appeared the year before. Speakers in past years have included Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tesla Motors chief executive Elon Musk.

Conference co-sponsors include the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International, the Las Vegas-based Clean Energy Project and the progressive think tank, Center for American Progress.