The fourth annual Renewable Energy Finance Forum is scheduled to take place in San Francisco on September 26 and 27.

Sponsored by the non-profit American Council on Renewable Energy, the event will focus on West Coast energy projects, but some sessions will address the bigger picture. A panel will examine how the United States fits into the world energy outlook, which the United Nations recently predicted could be driven by 80 percent renewable resources as early as 2050.

As electricity deregulation in many states has given consumers greater choices when it comes to powering homes and businesses with green energy, private companies have become crucial players in the industry. Rick Needham, project director of green business operations and strategy finance at Google, will share how the tech giant plans to shape the national energy picture by investing in utility-scale green energy developments.

Smaller independent enterprises have also entered the industry, as deregulation has loosened public utilities' control over the sector and spurred competition. For the first time, this year's conference will address this trend by convening a panel on financing modest projects in the $9 million to $25 million range.

The REFF conference will be the third gathering of renewable energy leaders within a month, following the National Geothermal Summit in Reno, Nevada, and the Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas.