Event to Launch Latin America Cleantech Initiative

A panel of experts will talk on the "Cleantech Outlook for Latin America" Nov. 16 at the Haas School as part a kickoff event for a new collaboration between two Berkeley MBA student clubs: the Berkeley Energy Resources Collaborative and the Latin American and Hispanic Business Association.

The collaboration, called Renewable Energy Latin America (RELA), expects about 100 people–industry professionals, investors, and faculty and students from Berkeley and Stanford–at its inaugural event, which runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Room. To attend, register at latamcleantech.eventbrite.com.

The panel will include Rob Guthrie, business initiatives specialist, Office of Renewable Energy and Environmental Exports, Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Still to be confirmed as panelists are a venture capitalist who works with cleantech companies in Latin America, a geothermal company executive, and a biofuels expert.

The goal of Renewable Energy Latin America is to form a network of professionals and students who share an interest in energy and Latin America. Members also hope to encourage California renewable energy companies to develop an interest in opportunities in Latin America.

“Latin America has been the home for traditional energy companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron. But clean energy companies aren’t looking at Latin America as a viable market for their technology,” says Adam Boscoe, MBA 12, director of RELA, who spent four years working for PFC Energy in Argentina before coming to Berkeley-Haas. “We think that’s a mistake.”

RELA plans to roll out a website with news and analysis of Latin American clean tech opportunities, project announcements, and information about existing Latin American startups.

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