NEW YORK, Oct. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz will deliver the keynote address at the 2013 Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum "Bridging the U.S. Boom: Global Markets Prepare" on Thursday, December 12, in New York City, Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemical and metals information provider and host of the event, announced today.

"We are particularly pleased Secretary Moniz will be our keynote speaker at a time when shale is transforming America's role in global natural gas and oil supply flows," said Larry Neal, president of Platts. "His expertise in science, focus on climate change and years as a presidential advisor and Under Secretary of Energy in the Clinton administration give him a unique perspective on current and future issues in the national and international energy arena."

The Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum, now in its seventh year, brings together energy executives, government officials and academics to outline and debate what they see as the challenges, opportunities and special issues facing the world's energy companies and policymakers.

Moniz, a nuclear physicist by training, became the nation's 13(th) energy secretary in May 2013, heading up President Obama's initiatives to enhance energy security, strengthen environmental protection, improve energy management and performance, and promote science and clean energy technology innovation.

Moniz will begin his keynote address at 12:30 p.m. ET. For a detailed forum agenda, visit: http://bit.ly/15u5Xsz.

In addition to Moniz' keynote, the Forum will feature three panel discussions and debates:

    --  Advanced Energy: Investing in the Future - Renewables or fossil fuels
        via smarter extraction methods - what is the best way ahead?
    --  Midstream Gathers Momentum - Building up, Building out: A look at
        pipelines, rail transport, LNG import/export terminals and more.
    --  Switching, Ditching and Bridging Fuels - Will a coal-to-natural gas
        switch make as much sense in 10 to 20 years as it does now, and can
        nuclear hold its power under carbon limits?

Prior to becoming Energy Secretary, Moniz held several U.S. government advisory positions and during the Clinton administration was Under Secretary of Energy from 1997 to January 2001, earning a reputation as an outspoken proponent of nuclear energy and natural gas. Prior to his government career, Moniz was the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was a faculty member since 1973. For a full biography, visit this link.

In June, Moniz appeared on Platts Energy Week, an all-energy news and talk program, for his first sit-down television interview since becoming Energy Secretary. During the in-depth interview conducted by program host and veteran energy policy reporter Bill Loveless, Moniz discussed myriad topics, including the potential for U.S. natural gas exports and the fragile state of the nation's coal industry.

Attendance at the Forum is open to corporate and industry executives with advance registration: general registration link (http://bit.ly/GKTiYM). Accredited media may attend as Platts guests by pre-registering at this media registration link (http://bit.ly/19wzzJb). Television cameras are welcome.

Fortune, a global leader in business journalism and owned by Time, Inc., a division of the Time Warner company, is principle sponsor of the Forum lunch for a second year. Co-sponsors of the Forum are Mercer, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies and a global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement and investments, and Breitling Oil and Gas, a large U.S.-based independent oil and natural gas company.

Additional sponsorship opportunities and information are available through Vicki_Peterson@platts.com at +1 970-461-1090.

Following the Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum, some 500 energy executives and other guests are expected to attend an associated event, the annual black-tie dinner gala for the unveiling of the 2013 Platts Global Energy Awards. The Awards program, now in its 15(th) year, recognizes exemplary performance in 18 awards categories for vision and leadership, commodity excellence, leading technologies, premier projects and stewardship.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is headquartered in New York with approximately 900 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), a financial intelligence company, is a leader in credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics for the global capital and commodity markets. Iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power & Associates, and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts