The conference, sponsored by the Blue Green Alliance, will take place at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel and is expected to draw some 2,000 participants. Click here to go to the conference website.

The program will include:

• Prominent national leaders, including Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, and breakout sessions to explore new ideas and exchange best practices;

• Green Jobs Expo featuring various companies, academic institutions and organizations displaying green technology or products from manufacturing; and

• Green Jobs Advocacy Day during which conference participants head up to Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers about the new, green economy.

"Transforming the economy through environmental solutions — creating good jobs and exploring green technologies that reduce global warming and increase energy independence — is key to our future," organizers said in announcing the conference.

"Solving global warming can now be centered on reinvigorating disadvantaged communities. The economy can be focused on buildups rather than bailouts. And the focus of energy independence will shift to clean energy and new technologies."

The 2009 event builds on the success of the 2008 conference held in Pittsburgh.