Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Sponsored by:

Spencer Abraham, former Secretary of Energy in the first term of President George W. Bush will launch CS Week Conference 33 Wednesday morning, May 20, 2009. He brings the insight of nearly two decades at the highest levels of domestic and international policy to the podium as he discusses the challenges facing utilities in light of geopolitical challenges as well as domestic production and regulation.

Abraham was sworn in as the tenth Secretary of Energy on January 20, 2001, beginning his tenure in the midst of a severe energy crisis that included the California blackouts, declining domestic energy supplies and insufficient international energy trade opportunities. He helped devise America's first national energy plan in over a decade. Implementing the plan, he led efforts to broaden America's international energy partnerships, including ordering studies of world oil, gas, electricity markets. Domestically, he spearheaded high-tech efforts in the areas of hydrogen fuel cell research and the development and expansion of clean coal technology programs, and supported the reemergence of safe nuclear power.

Abraham served six years as the junior U.S. Senator from Michigan. He was the author of 22 pieces of legislation signed into law - an unprecedented accomplishment for a freshman senator. He chaired two subcommittees: manufacturing and competitiveness, and immigration. He became a leading advocate for technological issues and was one of the first politicians to recognize the importance of establishing a relationship with Silicon Valley's technological entrepreneurs and business leaders. He authored three ground-breaking pieces of technology legislation: the Electronic Signature in Global and National Commerce Act, the Government Paperwork and Elimination Act, and the Anti-Cyber-squatting Consumer Protection Act. A strong supporter of the business community, Abraham consistently endorsed policies that enhanced America's competitiveness and global leadership.

He was recently named chairman of the board of AREVA Inc. He also sits on the Occidental Petroleum board of directors.

Abraham and his wife, Jane, are the parents of three children. He holds a law degree from Harvard University, where he co-founded the Federalist Society.