BINGHAMTON, NY - The SUNY Business and Education Cooperative of the Southern Tier (SUNY BEST) will offer the final program in its four-part series on energy, titled "Inspiring Energy Initiatives: The Private Sector," at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 5, at the University Downtown Center, 67 Washington St., Binghamton. This presentation is free and open to the public.

There are many energy initiatives and projects that are currently underway throughout New York State’s Southern Tier to reduce costs, improve efficiency and enhance sustainability. For this meeting, a panel of speakers representing businesses in the private sector from throughout the Southern Tier, will include:

- Mauricio Vargas, bioenergy lead of sustainability technologies, Lockheed Martin Missions Systems and Training. Topic: Projects Lockheed Martin and partner Concord Blue are executing to advance how the world addresses clean energy and waste reduction challenges.

- Chris Kopec, facilities group manager at McFarland Johnson. Topic: The Greater Binghamton Airport’s Geothermal Heating Project.

- Adam Flint, Southern Tier Solar Works program manager at the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition and Melissa Kemp, program director at Solar Tompkins. Topic: Solarize in the Southern Tier: Building the residential side of the clean energy economy.

- Matthew Rankin, director of business development for the Sunvestment Group. Topic: An innovative online platform that aims to bridge the finance gap in the mid-market solar industry.      

Pre-registration for this discussion is required through the SUNY BEST website at http://sunybest.binghamton.edu/. For additional information, e-mail sunybest@binghamton.edu.           

Directional signage to the meeting room will be visible for those entering the main entrance of the Downtown Center from Washington St. Parking is available in the Collier St. and Water St. ramps, both within two blocks of the Downtown Center, or if available, any of the metered parking spots in front of the building on Washington St.

SUNY BEST, a community development and outreach enterprise of Binghamton University’s Center for Innovative and Continuing Education, represents a volunteer group comprised of senior staff members from key economic and educational institutions in the Southern Tier. The group works to forge strong alliances, strengthen industry specific needs, and provide information and outreach for business.