CalPERS and CalSTRS to Host Conference on Environmental Investing March 29 in San Jose, California.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) announced today that they will host a conference on environmental investing on March 29, 2005 at The Fairmont in San Jose, California.

The one-day conference, entitled "Institutional Investors' Cleantech Conference," is an educational forum for leading institutional investors and other fund trustees to learn about investment opportunities in the rapidly-expanding clean technology ("cleantech") arena and the future outlook of the cleantech market.

The full conference agenda and registration materials can be found on the CalPERS and CalSTRS web sites. "There is a growing demand in our global economy for cleaner, more efficient energy and technological solutions," said Mark Anson, Chief Investment Officer for CalPERS. "This conference will give trustees and investment mangers the opportunity to educate themselves about the opportunities available in the cleantech investment market."

"We are encouraged that environmental technology promises attractive long-term investment returns while doing something positive on a global scale," said Chris Ailman, CalSTRS Chief Investment Officer. "This event will also give participants insight into managing fiduciary responsibilities and environmental risks."

Attendees of the CalPERS/CalSTRS conference will get the perspectives on cleantech investing from top policy makers, regulatory experts, private equity firms, and leaders in the cleantech sector, including:

--Phil Angelides, California State Treasurer and CalPERS/CalSTRS Board Member;

--Steve Westly, California State Controller and CalPERS/CalSTRS Board Member;

--Raj Atluru, Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson;

--Peter Cartwright, President and CEO, Calpine

--Real Desrochers, Director of Alternative Investments, CalSTRS;

--Dean Gosselin, Vice President, FPL Energy;

--Bob Grady, Managing Partner, Carlyle Venture Partners;

--Mark Huang, Vice President, General Electric Energy Financial Services;

--Matthew Kiernan, Chief Executive, Innovest Strategic Advisors;

--Alex Komoroske, Principal of Strategic Venturing, Honda Research Institute;

--Dan Reicher, President, New Energy Capital and former United States Assistant Secretary of Energy;

--William Reilly, Founding Partner, Aqua International Partners and former Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency;

--Leon Shahinian, Senior Investment Officer, CalPERS Alternative Investment Management Program;

--Russell Siegelman, General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; and

--Erik Straser, General Partner, Mohr Davidow Ventures.

The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (Ceres) and the Investor Network on Climate Risk will host a one-day forum on climate risk on March 30, 2005, following the CalPERS/CalSTRS conference. A conference agenda and registration information can also be found on CalPERS web site.

CalPERS is the nation's largest public pension fund with assets of more than $182 billion. The System provides retirement and health benefits to more than 1.4 million State and local public employees and their families.

CalSTRS, with a $125 billion portfolio, is the nation's third largest public pension fund. It administers retirement, disability and survivor benefits for California's public school educators in grades kindergarten through community college, serving more than 755,000 members and benefit recipients.