Clean Energy Leaders Convene, Pinpoint Solutions for Future - Replays Available

2024-04-20 08:04:05 Environment

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The first two-day track of a multi-part national 2016 Energy Solutions Conference Simulcast was held on March 23 24, 2016 and showcased top experts on a host of timely energy topics. The 23-speaker event focused on two themes: renewable energy and transportation alternative fuels.

The conference host has created the opportunity for those who missed this powerful program to access it at their own convenience by way of online recordings of each speaker's remarks and presentation materials. These on-demand replays represent a timely resource for professionals, decision-makers and the public including cities, counties, other public agencies, utility companies, other energy service providers, nonprofit organizations, community planners, educators, elected officials, businesses and industry, community leaders, students, and still others. From environmentalists to economic developers, energy specialists to generalists in decision roles, designers to engineers, transportation officials to consumers and many others, the conference centered on providing value for creating and carrying out solutions to meet energy needs. REPLAYS are available here: http://conference.energysmartplanning.org/replays.html

Energy technology innovations, the emergence of adverse climate impacts, citizen calls for clean energy, documented job increases from renewable energy and energy efficiency, and still other influences have catalyzed a shift in the energy world and new opportunities are available for states, local communities and at the national level. Such opportunities were in the spotlight throughout the March event.

Solar energy, bioenergy, wind power and other renewable energy resources, as well as energy efficiency innovations and alternative transportation fuels, offer more opportunities for the U.S. now than ever before, notes Marcia Elder, energy specialist and conference chair. The shift to their greater use has been recognized as vital to public health, the economy, the environment and national security, she adds.

As part of the March event, senior officials of key national organizations discussed a range of issues, alternatives, strategies and real world opportunities for addressing energy needs. Participants attended from around the country to learn about the latest clean energy technologies, benefits of their use, changing trends in energy services, consumer empowerment initiatives, sustainable community approaches, and assorted models of success.

Just some of the national organizations whose officials presented at the conference were: the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Renewable Energy Lab, Pace Energy & Climate Center, The Solar Foundation, the Solar Electric Power Association, Community Power Network, Center for Resource Solutions, Biomass Power Association and American Planning Association. The event also featured a major electric utility success story: Portland General Electric and its renewable energy programs. Transportation presenters included Nissan USA, General Motors, the USEPA Clean Cities program, the Florida Solar Energy Center and three utility companies. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Union of Concerned Scientists were among the other presenters.

Presentations by energy experts underscored how renewable energy and alternative fuels offer far-reaching and well documented benefits for local communities and the nation as a whole eliminating pollution, creating jobs, conserving energy, arresting the effects of climate change, reducing pollution-related health impacts, stimulating local economic development and more.

Access the on-demand replays to also learn about:

- How the future of communities will be impacted by energy choices

- How communities can go green, using solar and other renewable energy

- Models of utility programs and services that consumers can seek for their own locales

- Community planning approaches for creating clean energy success stories

- Significant job creation happening through renewable technologies

- The latest data and info on renewables for planning by states, communities and consumers

- Models of renewables projects that can be replicated in other areas

- Options for shifting from gasoline to cleaner energy choices in transportation

- What to expect from utilities of the future in meeting consumer needs -- & how the public can weigh in on related energy decisions

- And much more

On-demand replays of the event are broken down by speakers and topics so interested parties can focus on those of particular interest.

The event was hosted by the Future Is Now Foundation as the third in a series of successful energy conferences it has produced. The Foundation has sponsored many other Web-based events on energy and other topics over the past near 11 years. In keeping with its innovative approaches, the event was offered as a Simulcast whereby participants could attend in person or online, and as a modular conference with multiple tracks held throughout the year.

The next track will deal with energy efficiency, green buildings and green business operations and an impressive cast of speakers has been arranged for it. Originally planned for April, a new date will be announced soon as the host implements a new plan to make the event accessible even more widely by eliminating the registration fee.

The on-demand replays of the event are available through the conference Website along with other resources for a bright energy future -http://conference.energysmartplanning.org/act.html

The Future Is Now Foundation, established in 2002, is a Florida-based non-partisan, nonprofit organization that hosts educational programs and technical assistance on topics that matter for the future and now. The Foundation also provides capacity building services for the success of organizations.