solar energy

The 2008 CoSEIA Annual Meeting and Conference and SEI Solar Industry Seminar
March 25-29, 2008
Ft. Collins, CO Marriott

Please SAVE the DATES - this year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever! Click here for registration details. This year, we are doing things a little differently, so please note the changes!

This year's event will be held at:
Ft. Collins Marriott Hotel
350 East Horsetooth Rd.
Ft. Collins, CO 80525

A major renovation was recently completed at this hotel, so the rooms are very fresh and nicely done - and they were awarded the Energy Star rating for their renovation! There is a great restaurant in the lobby, and all the amenities you would expect from a Marriott property.

Guest rooms will be offered at a group rate of $109/night if reserved by Feb. 25. After that time, the rooms will go up to the regular rate of $169/night - so RESERVE EARLY!! In addition, discounted rooms will also be available for only $99/night if reserved by Feb. 25 at the nearby Marriott Courtyard property, and shuttle service to/from the main hotel will be available. These rooms will also go up to their regular rate of $159/night after Feb. 25.

Room reservations are available now, and must be made directly through the hotel at 1-970-226-5200,
1-800-228-9290, or online at http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ftcco-fort-collins-marriott/ (enter group code: SOLSOLA). If calling for reservations, please reference the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association event.

Centralized Solar for Electric Generation
February 13 - 14, 2008
Denver, CO

Emissions-free centralized solar power is a good match against peak air conditioning load, and it becomes a more attractive source in view of its independence of shrinking water resources and rising fuel costs.

Today, US utilities operate about 420 MW of centralized solar generating capacity in California, Nevada, and Colorado. 80% of this capacity has operated efficiently for over 20 years. Using today’s technologies, NREL projects that this capacity could jump to 4,000MW, economically, by 2015, and to between 30,000 and 80,000 MW by 2030, depending on the cost of carbon emissions.

To get there, utilities face significant transmission and land-use challenges. The Centralized Solar conference will address:

* Status of the technologies
* Performance requirements
* Power purchase agreements
* Selling RECs vs. selling energy
* Load matching and storage
* Siting and transmission
* Virtual systems
* How solar differs from wind

Grand Hyatt Denver
1750 Welton Street
Denver, CO 80202

Call 303-295-1234 for reservations and mention the EUCI Conference to get the group rate.

See agenda here.

In line with my recent focus on alternative energy, I'd like to draw your attention to an organization in Texas pushing for solar power: the Texas Solar Energy Society. Their mission statement "is to increase the awareness of the potential of solar and other renewable energy applications and to promote the wise use of these sustainable and non-polluting resources." They have lots of information on alternative energy including how you can help build renewable energy infrastructure by purchasing green energy (my wife and I do this here in NY State...it only costs us about 50 cents extra a month). Given the fact that we have less than 10 years (maybe only 5 years) to act to mitigate global warming, I really think local and state level organizations like these are critical to changing energy policy in America.

The Texas Solar Energy Society has chapters in:

El Paso

Houston

San Antonio

North Texas

And Central Texas.

Check them out, help them out and go green in Texas.