The 2010 Green California Summit and Exposition opened on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 for two days at the Sacramento Community Center. Pre-Summit workshops were held on Monday. This year's theme is Committed to Sustainability and features education programs, awards and over 175 exhibitors. Admission to the exhibits and keynote presentations is free.

Tuesday's expo opened with comments from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and expo co-chair, Linda Adams, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Senator Fran Pavley, author of AB 32, was the first keynote speaker. Pavley spoke about the current campaign to set aside AB 32 and defended the provisions of the Act with a Top Ten List of reasons to support AB 32.

Senator Fran Pavley, Tuesday keynote speaker

The second keynote speaker was 15-year-old Alec Loorz, founder of the non-profit organization, Kids-vs-Global Warming. Loorz spoke passionately about his generation's interest in fighting global warming. He developed an interest in climate change when he was 12 years old after viewing Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Loorz described his attempts to register as a trainer for Al Gore's organization, only to be turned down because of his age. He eventually met Al Gore and was invited to become an official trainer. Loorz has spoken to over 25,000 people and received a standing ovation from the audience when he finished his presentation.

Alec Loorz, Tuesday keynote speaker

Wednesday's scheduled keynote speakers will be Karen Douglas, Chairperson of the California Energy Commission, and F. Noel Perry, founder of Next 10.

The exhibit hall featured booths and demonstrations of a variety of environmental products and services. Some of the technologies on display included electric motorcycles and scooters, fuel cell automobiles, recycling services, electrical and water conservation products and landscaping alternatives.

The Green Expo exhibit hall

Chris White from the California Fuel Cell Partnership shows off a fuel cell vehicle

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the exhibit floor on Tuesday morning, stopping at several booths as he walked around the expo. After his tour, Schwarzenegger defended AB 32 and said green technologies were one of the few areas producing new jobs.

Governor Schwarzenegger greets students from Paradise Intermediate School

A multimedia presentation of the Green California Summit and Expo can be viewed here.

Photos by Ron Nabity