NCGA to Participate in Renewable Energy Conference; Bush Invited to Speak (10-5-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will be one of the many stakeholders involved in biofuels, wind, solar and other renewable energy sources at “Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance,” a conference jointly hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oct. 10-12 in St. Louis.

NCGA President Ken McCauley, CEO Rick Tolman and members of NCGA’s Research and Business Development staff are attending the event. NCGA is a sponsor of the event and will have a booth on the exhibit floor. Tolman will be master of ceremonies for the first day of the conference.

President George W. Bush has been invited to speak at the event on Thursday. Bush’s call to increase the United States’ renewable energy capabilities spurred the formation of the conference. The president’s Advanced Energy Initiative calls for increasing ethanol production, expanding access to wind energy through technology, and making solar photovoltaic technology cost competitive by 2015.

“The conference will be a worthwhile event to interact with key players in the future of renewable energy,” McCauley said. “With President Bush invited to attend, his presence will focus the spotlight on renewable energy even more.”

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman are the keynote speakers on the first day of the conference. Many government officials, industry, investors and producers are expected to attend. The conference is broken up into two themes focusing on perspectives on renewable energy from the private and public sectors.

There is still time to register for the event. Registration is $595 through Oct. 9. Registering at the conference will cost $695.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.technologyforums.com/6EN/.