On July 29, 2010, the X PRIZE Foundation will launch its sixth major competition, a multi-million dollar privately funded Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE, designed to inspire entrepreneurs, engineers, and scientists worldwide to develop innovative, rapidly deployable, and highly efficient methods of capturing crude oil from the ocean surface.

The announcement will be made at the National Press Club. Attendees will include:

· Peter Diamandis, Founder & Chairman, X PRIZE Foundation

· Wendy Schmidt, President, The Schmidt Family Foundation and Founder of the Foundation’s 11th Hour Project and Climate Central. Co-Founder of the Schmidt Marine Science Research Institute

· U.S. Representative Anh ‘Joseph’ Cao, representing Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District (New Orleans and the Gulf region of Louisiana)

· Philippe Cousteau, the son of Jan and Philippe Cousteau Sr., and grandson of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Co-Founder and CEO of EarthEcho International (http://www.earthecho.org), and co-founder of Azure Worldwide (http://www.azureworldwide.com) a strategic environmental design, development and marketing company

· Dr. Dave Gallo, PhD. Director of Special Projects. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

More info: X PRIZE Foundation news