01/26/12 6:03pm

Article By: EarthTechling

January 26, 2012 By Green Ways and Words

In about a month, D.C.’s Gaylord National Conference Center will be teeming with energy researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, and a couple of wild Bills.

The third annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit promises to bring together the type of leaders that can develop energy solutions for the future, and boy did they round up some well-known and wealthy problem solvers this year.

Keynote speakers booked include:

• Ursula Burns , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 of Xerox,
• Susan Hockfield, President 
of MIT,
• Frederick Smith, 
Chairman, President and CEO of FedEx,
• Lee Scott , Chairman of BDT Capital and Former CEO of Walmart,
• Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy,
• Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft, and
• President Bill Clinton.

Former President Clinton is a major draw for summit attendees and is scheduled to give a Keynote speech on the event’s final day. His many projects, including the Clinton Climate Initiative, the Clinton Development Initiative, and the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative, are helping to fight climate change and develop sustainable economic growth here and in developing nations. (Find out what else Bill’s been up to lately on his Facebook wall)

Bill Gates is also a remarkable booking for ARPA-E, and will be giving his keynote speech on the second day of the energy R&D conference. Under Gates’ leadership, Microsoft’s mission has been to continually advance and improve software technology, and to make it easier, more cost-effective and more enjoyable for people to use computers. The company is committed to the big picture, which is reflected in its sizeable investments in research and development each year.

ARPA-E will also be hosting the 2012 Technology Showcase, said to be the premier advanced energy technology symposium in The U.S. The showcase will highlight the recent ARPA-E award winners, finalists, and other exciting transformational technologies. GE, GM, The Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Boeing, MIT and several other universities are among the award winners that will present their innovations. See the full list here.

Going to be in D.C for the summit? EarthTechling readers get a 10% discount on registration! Enter the code 10Earthtec.

This is a cross post from EarthTechling.

EarthTechling is an online consumer publication focused on all things green technology. From clean energy and electric vehicles to green gadgets and green buildings, our passionate team and readers weigh in on the latest green news, services, and products.