T. Boone Pickens' address highlights Missouri Energy Summit

COLUMBIA – No more seats are available to hear T. Boone Pickens, the oil tycoon turned alternative energy advocate, speak at the Missouri Energy Summit, which begins Wednesday on MU's campus.

 The two-day summit, sponsored by the four campuses of the UM system, will take place at the Reynolds Alumni Center and Jesse Hall.

In addition to Pickens, Gov. Jay Nixon; Dale Klein, chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Daniel Cole, senior vice president for Ameren Corp.; Bob Kruse, executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries for General Motors; and many others will speak at the conference.

According to a MU News Bureau release, Nixon said the summit will "provide an important impetus across the state in cultivating greater collaboration and investment in energy solutions and the creation of new jobs."

While Pickens' keynote address is booked to capacity, anyone can attend the other sessions at Jesse Auditorium. MU will live-stream the lectures via the schedules page of the summit's Web site, including Pickens' keynote. Registration is closed for  lectures at the Alumni Center.

More than 800 people are registered to attend the summit. Events will run 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. through 6 p.m. Thursday.

Follow the inaugural Missouri Energy Summit and view constant updates at the Missourian's twitter feed.