Renewable Energy In Florida
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picture the courtesy of the Associated Press
Dear Renewable Energy Supporters,
This is indeed a historic and critical day (February 18, 2009) for the renewable energy industry in America. President Obama has not wavered from his campaign commitment to make good on the promise on what presidents before him deterred from largely due to an unwilling congress... that is to ignite the revolution needed to have a real green jobs economy in the United States of America. The signing of the stimulus package yesterday has done just that. To make the paradigm shift to a commitment to green jobs a reality there is much more work to do. We must now ask state legislators and officials who question the levity of a green jobs industry to challenge their fears and propensity to do what they have always done. The renewable community must continue to provide facts for which all decisions should be based on.
Currently, there is a lure to strap a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) in Florida for a Clean Energy Standard to include nuclear energy. By doing so, we will not meet the challenge of creating a new vibrant 21st century Florida which will be a leader in green jobs as well as a place for a growing clean tech industry. Such a move will send a signal to renewable energy investors that once again, Florida is closed for business. It will be viewed that when faced with being the leader in renewable energy in Southeastern United States, we passed. And we must also ask, what is the cost of doing nothing, and what type of a world will our children and grandchildren inherit with regard to sustainability energy production, our environment, and green tech jobs. No doubt, there are hard decisions before our policymakers while they maneuver this bold new initiative of a green economy.
We at FREPA urge continued discourse about the clear benefits of renewable energy in Florida, and the long-term cost benefits of more renewable energy generation. The cost of renewable technologies continues to go down as the market has clearly shown. We acknowledge and support the difficult jobs our leaders have before them and thank the Florida Public Service Commission for their hard work in preparing the RPS proposal. And again, we congratulate President Barack Obama on his insight and commitment to make a significant investment in this new green industry.
Regards,
Michael Dobson
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LESS THAN 30 DAYS REMAINING RESERVE YOU SEAT NOW
Second Annual Sunshine State Renewable Energy Expo and Symposium
At the Mary Brogan Museum , Tallahassee , Florida March 11-12 (welcome reception on March 10th at 6-8 p.m.)
Event Website Here
INVEST IN OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE. PARTICIPATE IN OUR GREEN ECONOMY.
$150.00 meeting attendee fee
(include reception, breakfast,lunch all sessions and materials)
To reserve seat:
$275.00 Exhibitors
(include table, 8x5 area, table cloth, two chairs )
Exhibitor Fee: 
Lunch and meeting materials included.
All paying attendees receive a 50% discount off of annual FREPA membership (limited time).
Reserve your place now for this popular conference by signing up via paypal above
Sponsorships Platinum-$5000 (limit 4)
Diamond-$3000 (limit 4)
Gold-$2500
Silver-$1500
Bronze-$1000
AGENDA March 10 Welcome Reception at Mary Brogan Museum-6 -8 P.M. March 11 7:30-8:15 a.m. Sign In 8:20 -9:00a.m. - Welcome: FREPA President and CEO Opening remarks by special guest speakers -TBA Governor Charlie Crist-Invited Senate Lee Constantine- Invited Jeremy Susac - Invited PSC Chairman, Mathew Carter-Invited
9:00- 9:45 ( Session A) Sunshine State Renewable Energy Future (clean and renewable technologies)
Presenters - Representatives from Biomass, waste to energy, solar, biofuels, Ocean and wind industry Moderator:TBA Session Description: The panelist will present an overview on where Florida is with the deployment of various energy and alternative fuel technologies and leave the audience with an idea of what are the opportunities for increased production in Florida Moderator:TBA Panelist
MW Biodiesel Consulting -Peggy Mathews, Founding Member and Agri-Source Fuels,LLC Representative
Covanta Energy- Teri Staniec,Director of Environmental Science & Community Affairs at Covanta Energy Florida International University (ocean energy)-Invited
Iberdrola Renewables- Victor Austin- pending 9:00-9:45 (Session B) Feedstock Availability; Biomass and Biofuels Project Financing Moderator:TBA
Session Description: This panel will present an in depth analysis of the currently available feedstocks for commercial production of bio-fuels. The discussion will include environmental concerns, agriculture characteristics and the economic viability of each category of feedstocks
Dr. Katsvairo
Dr. Tawainga Katsvairo - confirmed
Cornell University (biomass plant and soil expert) also fomer IFAS researcher Dr. Wilkie
University of Florida - Dr. Ann Wilkie Associate Research Professor /Soil and Water Science Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida
Roy Beckford
University of Florida - Dr. Roy Beckford
University of Florida Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent in Lee County *Nationally recognized Jathropa researcher Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (IFAS) UF New Clean Fuel: Bio-Diesel featuring Roy Beckfod ***New****9:00- 9:45-*Special Session * FREPA members and supporting partners (lower level) Roundtable presentation, discussion and Q&A -Project financing Moderator: TBA
John May
John May, Esq, Managing Partner - confirmed Stern Brothers Chadborne & Parke LLP - invited to participate in roundtable 9:55-10:40 a.m. (Session A) The Federal Stimulus package, the role of government, policymakers and business leaders Moderator:TBA
Gwen Rose -Vote Solar
Mark Sinclair -The Clean Energy Group
Senator Dan Gelber- confirmed interest/depending on legislative schedule Senator Michael Bennett- pending confirmation Representative Rick Kriseman - Invited Representatve Keith Fitzgerald-.. confirmed/depending on legislative schedule Kim Williams -Invited President, Marphan Supply Christopher Campbell, CEO -Invited Vision 20/20 9:55-10:40 a.m. (Session B, lower level) Federal Renewable Energy Grant and Loans
Session Description: The presenters will go over their federal agencies renewable energy programs i,e grant and loans. USDA and DOE will also prove Q&A with respect to the direction their agencies will be taking under the new administration Presenter- Representative USDA- name (TBA) Presenter- Representative DOE -pending confirmation Panelist-TBA 10:50 - 11:50 a.m. (Session A)- Renewable Energy Policy: How to have a renewable energy revolution ...lets talk solar in the Sunshine State Moderator:TBA Session description: The panelist will give an overview of the best and most popular renewable energy policies and opportunities credited with kick starting the industry in other states, country's and regions . Will also talk about the upside and downside of possible new policies and funding from the new administration.
Charity Pennock -confirmed
Subject: Southern Bioenergy Roadmap Program Manager Southern Growth Policies Board Project Coordinator, SAFER John Burges- pending Sarasota-based renewable energy investor with Pretium LLC Other Panelist-TBA
11:10- 11:50 a.m. (Session B, Lower level)- Energy Efficiency technolgies relative to greenhouse gas reduction Moderator:TBA Session Description: Panelist will discuss ...... A. Public policy in the area of energy efficiency B. How to make your home more energy efficient C. Energy Efficiency research and development updates and opportunities D. Products Panelist and Presenters:
Rob Vieira - confirmed
Director for Building Research at the Florida Solar Energy Center Biogreen Insulation Systems- Invited Ron Blagus, Director of Marketing- confirmed
Honeywell City of Tallahassee Utility- confirmed 11:10- 11:50 (Proposed Session C, lower level)-
Available clean sources of energy and their roles to fulfill our energy needs
Session Description: So that we have a clarifying view of our energy fiuture, this proposed session will review the role of all energy sources with regard to long term energy needs such as: natural gas storage, compressed natural gas, the pickens plan and an over arching discussion about the realities of what our green energy future will look like with competing technologies to secure our energy availability in a sustainable manner with a better energy mix.
Panel-TBA
12:00-1:20 p.m. - Lunch Session Moderator -Tim Center of Sustainable Florida "US Renewable policy opportunities,International market overview and energy investment big picture" Keynote speaker (s): Mont Vista Capital-Invited Chadborne and Parke LLP - confirmed
Charlie Bronson
Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson- confirmed 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. (Session A)- Florida Green Jobs Economy Session Description: Panelist will answer questions a such as what are green jobs? Where does public policy and economic development meet? What are the tools to attract green jobs? What is Florida's potential green economy? And, what does the education system need to do to make sure we have workers for new green jobs? Presenter
Dr. Rona Fried 
Rona Fried, Ph.D. -confirmed Editor & Publisher, Progressive Investor President, SustainableBusiness.com http://www.sustainablebusiness.com Article by Rona
Jay Liles- confirmed
Policy Consultant, Florida Wildlife Federation
Present Florida Green Jobs Report 1:30 - 2:40 p.m. (Session B- lower level)- Renewable Energy Research and Development to Commercialization .. updates Moderator: TBA Session Description: Alternative energy demands are forcing the rapid development of biofuels and renewable electric generation. This panel will focus on R & D to commercial viability to include biogas to energy, biofuel processes to commercial production,
Complete Panel- TBA David Cartes, Ph.D. -confirmed Director, Institute for Energy Systems, Economics and Sustainability (IESES) Associate Director, Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Florida State University Elias (Lee) Stefanakos, PhD- confirmed Professor and Director Clean Energy Research Center College of Engineering University of South Florida Dr. Ahmad Sleiti, PhD- confirmed Assistant Professor College of Engineering and Computer Science University of Central Florida
1:30 - 2:20 p.m. (Session C) - A Cap and Trade Green Economy
Moderator:TBA
Session Description: This panel will discuss how a Cap and Trade Program could boost Florida's Renewable and Efficiency Industry.
Keith Allan, HM Consul General in Florida -Confirmed
Sonia Hamel, UK Climate Change Policy Advisor for the US-Confirmed
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)- confirmed but panelist -Confirmed/name TBA 2:25- 3:20p.m. (Session A)- The session: Cities, Counties, hospitality industry and trade groups reducing carbon footprints Session Description: The presenter (s) will educate the audience on net return for greening events in the hospitality industry to include parties and trade association events. Will also discuss what cities and counties as well as individuals can do to green their daily activity Moderator:TBA Presenters- More TBA Georgia Malki Georgia Malki -Confirmed President of Seven Star (green experts to the event industry) And, Co- Producer/Operational Director of Green Cities: to discuss how to green an event in hospitality industry and beyond
2:25- 3:20p.m. (Session B)-Green building and construction opportunities in Session Description: The panelist will present a discussion on the growth of the green building industry, what does it mean to be a green building and how does a building become green, green building certifications. They will also discuss job growth in the green building industry and will explore green building via the construction industry. Moderator:TBA Presenters-TBA
Dr. Languell  Jennifer L. Languell, Ph. D.-confirmed Founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions Board member of the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Florida Green Building Coalition Certifying Agent USGBC LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) *Other presenter-TBA 2:35-3:20 p.m. (Session C) Alternative Transportation fuels: project financing and range of industry needs/opportunities Moderator:TBA Session Description: The panel will provide a whole picture of what it will take to not only have farm to Fuel be a reality with respect to producing fuels, but to also develop the market for alternative fuels Technologies Infrastructure Emmissions Sustainability Fuel sources including feedstock availability Policy needs of industry Ins and outs of alternative fuels project financing Panel:TBA John May, Stern Brothers of Kansas City- Confirmed Alternative Fuels project financing 3:30- 400- Renewable Energy Public Relations: renewable development communications and outreach strategies ..take it from a pro
Moderator:TBA Session Description: The speaker will provide insight into the significance of having a public relations strategy for your renewable energy project and strategies. Will also discuss strategies through anecdote about when communications have gone the wrong way. We've also asked the speaker to discuss the importance of engaging in an ongoing industrywide renewable energy educational campaign.
Honey  Honey Rand, Ph.D., APR -confirmed The Environmental Communications Group Author of "Water Wars":A Story of People, Politics and Power. 4:25-4:55 p.m.- Moving Florida into a Leadership Position in Renewable Energy - what to do now.
Presentations-Panel Discussion- Q&A Florida Renewable Energy Association (FREA)-confirmed/ repTBA
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy- Leon Jacobs (confirmed)
Florida Solar Energy Industries Association(Flaseia)-pending/TBA Florida Farm Bureau -Invited Florida Renewable Energy Producers Association (FREPA) - Confirmed Florida Universities Renewable Energy Consortium -Confirmed Enterprise Florida-pending Florida Economic Development Councils - Todd Kokourek- Invited 5:30- 8:00 p.m. Informal gathering at Andrews Bar and Grill March 12 8:00-8:40 (coffee , juice and danish available) Renewable Energy Lobby Day Prep Overview of key components of the Florida Renewable Energy advocates policy suggestions and list of key lawmakers, appointments and etc Presenter: FREPA Renewable energy policy coalition coordinators. 8:45- Begin meetings with lawmakers at state capital
Accomodations
SpringHill Suites Marriott
1300 Executive Dr
(at Kroger Center Appalachee Parkway)Tallahassee
Special meeting rate of $149.00 per night.
Or go to site below for info:
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