With less than a week to go to the start of Making It Here 2012: Manufacturing Our Energy Future in Cleveland, we are excited to announce a new opportunity for those interested in learning more about America’s advanced energy future.

Now, for only $40 per person or $300 per table of eight, interested people can sign up to attend the engaging kickoff lunch for the conference from 11:30-2:45 on Wednesday, July 11, 2012.

As part of this lunch, participants will listen to industry experts discuss the future of America’s renewable energy sector when Chris Ayers, President of Global Primary Products at Alcoa, moderates a plenary panel including Michael Eckhart, Managing Director of CITI Bank and former President of the American Council on Renewable Energy, and Carl Pope, Convener of the American Manufacturing Dialogue and the former Executive Director and Chairman of the Sierra Club. Additionally, Louis Schorsch, Executive Vice President of ArcelorMittal, will give a plenary address.

As head of Alcoa Global Primary Products, Ayers oversees a unit that operates 23 smelters and nine alumina refineries worldwide, with bauxite assets in Australia, Brazil, Jamaica, Suriname and Guinea. Alcoa’s global aluminum smelting capacity totals 4.8 million metric tons, and its global alumina capacity totals more than 18 million metric tons. You can learn more about Ayers background here.

Registration for the lunch and the conference is still open, so sign up today. Remember, your registration will only be $395 if you use our discount code BGAF.