REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (October 28, 2009) — The Cleantech Open announced William Weihl, Green Energy Czar at Google, will present the keynote address during the “Academy Awards of Cleantech” Awards Gala at The Masonic Center in San Francisco on November 17, 2009.

As the Green Energy Czar at Google, Weihl leads efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and manages the company’s greenhouse gas footprint. “We see a chance to make a difference in the field of renewable energy and energy information that can help bring the world to a lower carbon and more efficient economy,” said Weihl of Google’s initiative to become carbon-neutral.”

Weihl is an experienced technologist, entrepreneur and committed environmentalist with deep and broad experience in computer science. His extensive business and high-tech experience includes ten years as a professor of Computer Science at MIT, five years as a research scientist at Digital’s Systems Research Center and five years as Chief Architect and then CTO of Akamai Technologies.

“Weihl’s generous gift of his time and energy speaks to the immediate need to not only have big business participate in identifying entrepreneurs that show promise in ideas that seek to build a clean energy future, but to also actively engage the nation’s future thought leaders and inventors of clean technology,” said Rex Northen, executive director of the Cleantech Open.

The Cleantech Open is made possible by the generous support provided by National Expansion Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Platinum Sponsor: PG&E; Gold Sponsors: Autodesk, The Cleantech Circle, Google, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati; Silver Sponsors: Accretive Solutions and RoseRyan; and Program Sponsors: California Clean Energy Fund, Ernst and Young, and Korn/Ferry International.

To learn more about the Cleantech Open, or to attend the Expo and Awards Gala, visit www.cleantechopen.com.