MNN - Mother Nature Network

Here is Part 2 of my exhaustive list of the must-attend green tech events of the spring season. I received several more recommendations, so the last is beyond 10. Here goes...

RETECH. Las Vegas. Feb. 27-29.

Billed as the premier event focusing on renewable energy, with more than 2000 attendees connecting with "...with other manufacturing and supplier peers, industry experts, and influential leaders as they share insights on renewable energy and what the next year holds for the industry.

Green Net. San Francisco. March 24.

Right up my alley — Green Net will be the first green conference for internet technology industry. Presented by Giga Om, publisher of one of the best technology blogs Earth2Tech, the event is geared to show how "... tools created in the Internet, computing and IT revolutions will be crucial for fighting climate change." There is an impressive line up of speakers covering everything from Green IT carbon software to intelligent cars and smart grids. I'm particularly interested in a track on leveraging the social web for green activism. Sadly, I'll be in New Mexico so I'll have to get the video on that one. 

Green Cities. Portland. April 18-21.

Created by a coalition of local governments called the National League of Cities, this group has been way ahead of the curve in pushing adoption of the Kyoto protocol at the city level, and the development of green city infrastructure projects including energy efficiency programs, light rail, water projects and renewable energy utilities. "The National League of Cities understands the economic situation facing cities. It also understands that many cities want to participate in the burgeoning "green" cities movement to take advantage of job creation opportunities, cost savings and increased livability."

Brainstorm: Green. Laguna Nigeul. April 20-22.

Leaders in the green business movement like Paul Hawken and Van Jones will gather just north of San Diego to address CEO's, policy leaders and environmentalists in an interactive exploration of the challenges and opportunities businesses that want to go green.

WindPower Expo. Chicago. May 4-7.

The largest annual wind conference in the world, WindPower has close to 800 exhibitors and over 13,000 attendees. "Each year, wind energy professionals gather at this event to learn about the latest industry developments and technologies, review new products and services in the expansive exhibit hall, and network with leading industry decision makers." 

Clean Technology. Houston. May 3-7.

The same week, Texas kicks of a whole month of green technology events, starting with the world's biggest cleantech event which will bring together "... over 5,000 technology and business leaders and experts from academia, investment, government, startups and Fortune 1,000 companies." The impressive list of participating companies is here.

The following weekend Dallas hosts the big NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Green Building Conference. Lubbock will also host the IEEE Green Technology Conference April 16-17, geared for the real gearheads — electrical engineers.

Greener by Design. San Francisco. May 19-20.

The best and biggest green product design conference will focus this year on "greener product for leaner times." Judging by the roster of attendees (pretty much every major Fortune 100 company) bog corporations are hungry for green innovation, despite the recession. Keynoted by two stellar speakers — Bill McDonough, the guy who started the green product bandwagon and his young heir apparent, Tom Szaky of Terracycle.

You can see the rest of my "Top 10" list here, and please leave suggestions in the comments.