Nebraska Energy Fair Successful
Release Date:
07/26/2010
Contact(s):
Stephanie Fritz, stephanief@cfra.org, Phone: (402) 358-3432
Lyons, NE - Approximately 50 people traveled around Northeast Nebraska Friday, taking part in the Renewable Energy Bus Tour that began that morning. The bus tour was the opening event of the Nebraska Energy Fair, taking place Friday and Saturday in and around Lyons, NE. The day long bus tour traveled to various sites in Northeast Nebraska to demonstrate energy efficiency and renewable energy techniques in operation. The tour visited 5 wind turbines (commercial and small-scale), a solar installation, a renewable energy farm, a commercial methane digester and an on-farm alcohol plant and more.
"The demand for seats on the bus tour was over capacity, forcing us to turn a few people away. Although we hate to do that I think everyone understood and everyone is encouraged by the level of participation in that first phase of the Nebraska Energy Fair," said John Crabtree of the Center for Rural Affairs
According to Crabtree, organizers at the Center for Rural Affairs expect participation in the two day Energy Fair to exceed 200.
"I think we could see participation for the two days even exceed that. There has been tremendous interest in the hands-on learning about renewable energy that is available at this event. And with Congress taking up energy legislation this month there has been a lot of attention to these issues in the media, so, luckily, our timing was just about perfect," Crabtree continued.
The event, assembled by the Center for Rural Affairs and Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems, enabled consumers to engage in one-on-one discussions with renewable energy system experts, providers, installers and businesses offering energy efficiency/conservation products
Today, at least 14 vendors are showcasing their eco-friendly renewable energy and energy efficiency services and products and their exhibits and demonstrations can be viewed throughout the day (see http://www.cfra.org/renewable-energy-fair-2010 for more information about presenters and breakout sessions held today). Check-in and registration began at 8:00 a.m. and Lyons Mayor Andy Fuston welcomed the crowd at 9:00 a.m. and Senator Heath Mello delivered the opening keynote at approximately 9:15 (see http://www.cfra.org/newsrelease/2010/07/20/nebraskas-energy-fair-week for more information about Senator Mello's keynote and other speakers).
Stephanie Fritz, energy fair organizer who headed coordination of the energy fair, said the number of vendors and fair-goers exceeded her expectations, "The Energy Fair is a tremendous event, the participation demonstrates that rural Nebraskans have their eyes on the horizon and are looking for ways to create a better energy future for their families, their communities, their farms, ranches and mainstreet businesses."
According to Crabtree, organizers at the Center for Rural Affairs expect participation in the two day Energy Fair to exceed 200.
"I think we could see participation for the two days even exceed that. There has been tremendous interest in the hands-on learning about renewable energy that is available at this event. And with Congress taking up energy legislation this month there has been a lot of attention to these issues in the media, so, luckily, our timing was just about perfect," Crabtree continued.
The event, assembled by the Center for Rural Affairs and Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems, enabled consumers to engage in one-on-one discussions with renewable energy system experts, providers, installers and businesses offering energy efficiency/conservation products
Today, at least 14 vendors are showcasing their eco-friendly renewable energy and energy efficiency services and products and their exhibits and demonstrations can be viewed throughout the day (see http://www.cfra.org/renewable-energy-fair-2010 for more information about presenters and breakout sessions held today). Check-in and registration began at 8:00 a.m. and Lyons Mayor Andy Fuston welcomed the crowd at 9:00 a.m. and Senator Heath Mello delivered the opening keynote at approximately 9:15 (see http://www.cfra.org/newsrelease/2010/07/20/nebraskas-energy-fair-week for more information about Senator Mello's keynote and other speakers).
Stephanie Fritz, energy fair organizer who headed coordination of the energy fair, said the number of vendors and fair-goers exceeded her expectations, "The Energy Fair is a tremendous event, the participation demonstrates that rural Nebraskans have their eyes on the horizon and are looking for ways to create a better energy future for their families, their communities, their farms, ranches and mainstreet businesses."
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