Rural energy experts gather in Fairbanks

April 26, 2010

Marmian Grimes



Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
4/26/10


The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Center for Energy and Power and the Alaska Energy Authority will host the Rural Energy Conference in Fairbanks April 27-29 at the Westmark Hotel.

More than 95 communities from throughout Alaska will be represented. Attendees will include rural community leaders and village power plant operators, state legislators, agency experts, scientific researchers and industry leaders. The goal of the conference is to discover innovative energy solutions for Alaska. Each day will include technical sessions on a variety of topics, as well as a trade show with more than 35 vendors. In addition, highlights include:
Tuesday, April 27
8:30 a.m. - Keynote remarks from Denali Commission federal co-chair Joel Neimeyer, Alaska Energy Authority director Steve Haagenson and representatives of Alaska’s congressional delegation.
10:30 a.m. - Discussion on demographic and cultural shifts in rural Alaska

Wednesday, April 28
8:30 a.m. - Legislative update with the chairs of the state House and Senate energy committees and governor’s office senior energy policy advisor Gene Therriault
10:30 a.m. - A discussion on the challenges and opportunities of the state’s PCE program
Noon - Lunch presentation highlighting a recent study of wind installations in Alaska

Thursday, April 29
8:30 a.m. - Discussion of the different utility models in Alaska
1:30 p.m. - Breakout sessions for attendees from similar regions

A full schedule of events is available online at www.uaf.edu/acep/rec/

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Julie Estey at 907-590-0879 or via e-mail at julie.estey@alaska.edu.

MG/4-26-10/211-10