REGISTRATION FORM:

Download the registration form to reserve an exhibit space at the 11th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum to be held Thursday - July 31 in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building.

WHO MAY BE AN EXHIBITOR:

Unlike past years, this year's EXPO is being designed to include not only companies and businesses working on energy efficient and/or renewable energy technologies but also non-profit energy policy organizations, trade associations, and sustainable energy advocacy groups (although participants will need to respect any existing congressional regulations governing lobbying, etc.).

A decision has not yet been made about whether or not to include potentially interested governmental agency exhibitors.

We hope that the mix of policy organizations and businesses will enable a more comprehensive exchange with visitors about not only sustainable energy technologies but also related issues such as costs, model programs, institutional and legal barriers, etc.

Please feel free to alert any businesses or organizations that you think might have an interest in being an exhibitor.

EXHIBIT CONTENT:

Because of the extremely cumbersome and time-consuming off-site security system now in place for clearing large or potentially hazardous displays of any sort, exhibitors are being asked to ONLY bring in exhibits and materials that can be examined and passed through the smaller X-ray machines at the entrances to the Cannon House Office Building. 

Exhibitors will be responsible for bringing in their own exhibits.  An outside exhibition firm has not been contracted for this EXPO.

The primary considerations in approving any exhibitors will be whether their proposed exhibit:

• demonstrates the status, near-term potential, economics, and/or environmental benefits of sustainable energy technologies in general or a
  specific energy efficiency or renewable energy technology in particular;
• illustrates how sustainable energy technologies in general - or a specific technology in particular - might create domestic jobs, reduce
  greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy prices and/or energy imports, and/or serve as alternatives to traditional energy sources such as fossil
  fuels or nuclear power 
• is visually engaging (e.g., includes video demonstrations, posters or other displays, models, samples, etc.)

RESERVING AN EXHIBIT SPACE:

Using roughly the same floor plan as had been used at the 7th & 8th EXPOs (in 2004 & 2005), there are 34 "booth" spaces [4' x 10'] and two corner "table" spaces [~4' x 8']. 

Booth spaces are available for $500; table spaces are available for $400.

If there is demand for more exhibit space than this provides, some additional spaces may be added.

Exhibit spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis -- that is, as registration forms + checks are received, a copy of the floor
plan will be faxed to registrants so that they may select from among the available spaces.

START AND END TIMES:

The exact start and end times of the EXPO are not yet firmed up. 

However, we recommend that it begin at 9:00 am because the impending August 1 congressional recess may result in Members being around primarily in the earlier part of the day.

The end time is more subject to discussion.  we are tentatively recommending an endtime of 5:00 pm but perhaps 4:00 or 4:30 would be preferable. Comments welcomed.

NEWS CONFERENCE AND SPEAKERS:

Some form of news conference featuring Members of Congress will be scheduled during the morning hours.

Several members of the Sustainable Energy Coalition have recommended that there be additional speakers -- perhaps drawn from among the exhibitors. Whether or not such a "Forum" is included will depend on others' interest, space availability, and whether or not we can handle doing that time-wise. Comments welcomed.

FOOD/RECEPTION:

At this time, there are no plans to provide food (e.g., soft drinks or ice cream) or to host a reception in conjunction with the EXPO.

This, however, may change if there is sufficient interest and if one or more organizations wish to sponsor such activity (e.g., provide the funds, planning, and staff).

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:

Please send your questions and comments via our contact form.

On July 31st on Capitol Hill, the Sustainable Energy Coalition hosted the 11th annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum in cooperation with Members of the US House of Representatives and US Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses.

The EXPO addressed the role that sustainable energy technologies are ready to play in solving the myriad problems facing America today, including volatile conventional energy prices, increased reliance on energy imports, job loss, the negative impacts of rising greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and other environmental and public health problems that come from using fossil fuels. More than forty sustainable energy businesses, industry trade associations, government agencies, and policy research organizations set up exhibits to showcase the current status and near-term potential of a cross-section of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and programs.

Several Members of Congress assembled at the Expo for a morning news conference to show their support of renewable energy and energy efficiency, including the Co-Chair of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO), Co-Chairs of the House Caucus Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), Vice-Chair of the House Caucus Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Rep. Inslee took the opportunity to announce his introduction of the U.S. Climate Action Now Act, which would improve the energy efficiency of buildings and help connect renewable energy sources to the grid.

An afternoon panel featured James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence and currently with Booz Allen Hamilton, Gal Luft of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, Lars Hansen of Novozymes North America, and David Sandalow, author of Freedom from Oil. The discussion focused on the national security implications of our dependence on imported oil and the future outlook of biofuels and plug-in electric vehicles to reduce this dependence and reduce CO2 emissions. Woolsey challenged the audience to "do to oil what we did for salt," noting that once refrigeration technology was widely implemented, salt was no longer a strategic commodity that gave exporting nations power over others.