HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2009

COMMISSIONER FERLITA ANNOUNCES REGIONAL ENERGY

MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY FORUM FOR JANUARY 29TH

Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita has announced plans

for a regional Energy Management and Sustainability Forum to be held

January 29, 2010 in Tampa. The announcement was made during a

presentation at today’s regular Board of County Commissioners meeting.

The presentation introduced several other advancements underway in

Hillsborough County, including the creation of an Office of Sustainability

and a Climate Action Plan.

The forum, E3: Energy, Environment and Economics, will be held at the

St. Pete Times Forum, a site already undertaking green initiatives of its

own. The E3 forum will provide regional fleet managers and facility managers

an environment for sharing best practices and practical ways to save energy.

There will also be discussions about carbon credits that communities and

businesses can earn based on current green activities. These credits can

be sold through an exchange to industries needing improvements in

greenhouse gas reduction.

“We must come together regionally and talk about practical approaches

in our sustainability efforts. It starts with sharing ideas and knowledge.

From there, I hope leadership throughout the area can come together

and share successes,” Commissioner Ferlita stated. “I am focused on

smart environmental initiatives that will yield financial benefits to our

County – we can do both.”

A web site offering more information about the E3: Energy,

Environment and Economics forum will be online later this week

(accessible from the county’s web site www.hillsboroughcounty.org)

for registration. The fee for registration is $25 and covers parking,

morning snack and lunch.