Virginia’s Sustainable Future Summit begins Sept. 13

By Anne Buckley

Community, business and government representatives along with builders, environmental specialists and educators will convene at Virginia’s Sustainable Future Summit — Solutions for the Environment, Business and Communities. 

The three-day summit, sponsored in part by Virginia Commonwealth University, will take place Tuesday, Sept. 13 through Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Sustainable development is described as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations. This can include everything from wind turbines as a source of energy and pedestrian-friendly community design to public policy and the beneficial use of industrial byproducts.

Conference themes will include water resources and sustainability; healthy buildings and communities; industrial stewardship and sustainability options; sustainable policy for the 21^st century; transportation; environment; economics and land use; and energy for an efficient and secure future. 

The conference also will feature pre-conference workshops, sessions based on six tracks, an exhibit hall and Green Building Gallery and tours. Special activities in conjunction with the conference include the Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Board Meeting, the VCU Rice Center Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting, and the 10^th anniversary of the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards for Manufacturers.

Keynote speakers include Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (invited); Donald W. Aitken, Ph.D., Donald Aitken Associates; Russell W. Baxter, Virginia’s assistant secretary of natural resources, Chesapeake Bay Coordination; Robert G. Bloxom, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry; Hugh F. Gouldthorpe, Jr., senior vice president of quality and communications, Owens & Minor; Pierce Homer, Virginia secretary of transportation; Steven L. Johnson, administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (invited); John L. Knott, Jr., managing director/CEO, The Noisette Company, LLC; Gerald P. McCarthy, executive director, Virginia Environmental Endowment; W. Tayloe Murphy Jr., Virginia secretary of natural resources; David K. Paylor, Virginia deputy secretary of natural resources; Michael J. Schewel, Virginia secretary of commerce and trade; Daniel K. Slone, McGuire/Woods LLP; L. Preston Bryant, Virginia House of Delegates; Robert D. Holsworth, Ph.D., VCU; and Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

This is the third statewide conference to focus on sustainability. The last Virginia’s Sustainable Future’s conference was held in 2001. This year’s summit brings together public and private supporters, including three new partners, VCU, the Virginia Manufacturers Association and Environmental Solutions, Inc., which join previous partners Virginia Sustainable Building Network, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

Registration, sponsorship and exhibitor information is available at www.vsf3.org.