Top speakers, cutting-edge solutions, and awards gala mark seventh annual Midwest Energy Solutions conference

CHICAGO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) (http://mwalliance.org) expects hundreds of energy leaders from throughout the Midwest to attend its seventh annual Midwest Energy Solutions 2009 Conference (http://www.meeaconference.org) and Inspiring Efficiency Awards Dinner and Gala at the Intercontinental Chicago Hotel this week.

The conference begins Wednesday, January 7 at 1 pm, with an opening keynote address from Robert W. Galvin -- Founder, Galvin Electricity Initiative, and Retired Chairman and CEO, Motorola, Inc. -- and concludes at noon on Friday, January 9.

The Inspiring Efficiency Awards Dinner and Gala kicks off with a reception at 5:30 pm on Thursday January 8, followed by dinner and awards presentations from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. A total of six individuals and organizations will be honored in six categories for advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest. Award recipients include the following:

    LEADERSHIP Award -- Jim Doyle, Governor, Wisconsin
    EDUCATION Award -- Interstate Power and Light Co.
    IMPACT Award -- Orion Energy Systems Inc.
    MARKETING Award -- Wisconsin Focus on Energy
    INNOVATION Award -- Keyser Visual, A Division of The Keyser Group
    CHAIRMAN'S Award -- Janet Streff, Manager, State Energy Office, Minnesota
    Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security

More detailed information on the Inspiring Efficiency Awards can be found at http://www.meeaconference.org/awards_winners.php.

    Midwest Energy Solutions 2009 Conference highlights include the following:
    Wednesday January 7, 2009

-- Keynote address by Robert W.