Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association is hosting its second annual Michigan Energy Fair this weekend, June 22-24 at the Manistee County Fairgrounds in Onekama.
It will be a trip up north for many attendees, who represent potential consumers of alternative energy products as well as many designers and manufacturers of those very products.
GLREA's executive director Jennifer Alvarado expects more than 120 exhibitors and 70 educational workshops. She explains the synergy between the two. "You can attend a workshop on how to make your home more energy efficient and then go talk to an installer."
Exhibitors include alternative fuel vehicle manufacturers ranging from solar cars to flex fuel to hybrids, as well as solar and wind energy providers for residential and commercial buildings. Workshops will address how to use biofuels, composting and sustainable living.
Alvarado sees the timing for this event as perfect considering the recent legislative call for Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) for Michigan energy.
"GLREA has been promoting RPS for two years --lobbying legislators, working with businesses, environmental groups, different entities -- to work on getting RPS in Michigan. We spend $20 billion on importing energy into this state, and we have these resources: the sun and wind are free. We want to see investment in this equipment, and let's become manufacturers of this equipment."
Alvarado thinks the alternative energy industry is key to Michigan's economic growth: "We see great potential for Michigan to take our auto expertise and some of other manufacturing expertise and really parlay that into renewable energy technologies." She points out, "There are 32 companies already manufacturing parts for the alternative energy industry -- and they're growing rapidly, trying to find more workers."
She says that for out-of-state companies to invest here, they need to see an RPS as proof of the state's commitment. "You get [the state] to commit to using the technology, it allows manufacturers to come in because they will be closer to the base who they're serving with their product." And then, she says, "With our expertise, we could grow in this area in the global market and really become major player in this."
Source: Jennifer Alvarado, GLREA
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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