Geothermal Energy Expo: Just Days Away

Exhibitors, presenters, sponsors, attendees and staff all eagerly anticipate the geothermal event of the year, GEA's Geothermal Energy Expo and the GRC Annual Meetings, coming next month October 4-7 in Reno, Nevada. The site is the Peppermill Resort, where a geothermal well is expected to go on line in January.

So how does one navigate the maze of industry celebration and business that is the Expo Hall? This year we are introducing Twitter updates available for delivery to your cell phone to help you keep up with who's doing what and when. Details coming; follow us at http://twitter.com/GEAgeoenergy.

Members Meeting
The festivities actually kick off on Saturday, October 3 with our Annual Members Meeting and Policy Workshop. This is a great way to become more familiar with GEA, even if you are not a member. We'll provide an overview of our activities over the past year and will be privileged to hear from several experts and policy leaders. Employees of GEA member companies and all companies exhibiting at the 2009 GEA Geothermal Energy Expo are encouraged to participate by registering at http://www.geo-energy.org/new_expo/events.asp.

Opening Reception
The Geothermal Energy Association and Geothermal Resources Council invite you to the official kick-off on Sunday, October 4, 6-8:30pm.

Webcast
Can't make it to the Expo? We'll miss you, but you can still join us from afar. Our first-ever Geothermal Energy Expo Webcast will take place Tuesday, October 6, 10am to 2pm Pacific Time and will feature speakers from exhibiting companies as well as a few other faces. Register at http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=61325.

Poker Tournament
Last year's poker tournament was so popular that we had ot bring it back for another round. This will take place October 6, 9pm-midnight. We are playing for real money so bring your game face. You can register now by contacting us or at the Expo registration desk. Entry fee is $125.

Best in Show Awards
On the final day of the Expo, Wednesday, October 7 at 11am, GEA will celebrate by presenting our much-anticipated, highly sought-after Best in Show Awards to exhibitors chosen by a select panel of judges...and don't forget to vote for the People's Choice Award.

We can't wait to see you. Stop by our booth and say hi, and don't forget to pick up a copy of our newest Update on U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development (the "Industry Update"), to be released just days before the Expo. For more details on all Expo-related events visit the Expo Web site at http://www.geo-energy.org/new_expo/default.asp.

Governor's Executive Order Boosting Renewable Energy to 33% Will Work for California and the West, Industry Association Says

Representing the US geothermal power industry, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) supports Governor Schwarzenegger's Executive Order to boost California's renewable energy power standard to 33% by 2020. "GEA fully supports the Governor's initiative to boost the state's renewable energy goal," Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director said. "We believe that the Governor has crafted an RPS strategy that avoids the unnecessary delivery restrictions and complexity of the bills that he has vetoed. As a result, the Governor's Executive Order works not just for California, but also for all the other western states that are trying to bring more renewable energy online in the next 10 years."

Geothermal power is California's most productive renewable resource (excluding large hydropower, which the state does not categorize as renewable), providing over 40% of the state's renewable power in 2008. "There are thousands of megawatts of additional geothermal energy that can be developed in California and nearby states to help achieve or even exceed the 33% goal announced today by the Governor,” Gawell added.

According to John McCaull, GEA’s Western States Representative, "Recent studies have shown that the most cost-effective system for achieving the renewable portfolio standards adopted by states such as California and Nevada is to recognize that project location, environmental concerns, grid reliability, cost containment, and transmission planning require that we look at all available resource options." In June 2009, several western states and the Western Governor’s Association (WGA) simultaneously released long-awaited studies pointing to geothermal energy as one of the nation’s most cost-effective and reliable renewable energy resources that should be given priority as an expanded electricity transmission grid is planned.

Following those studies, McCaull submitted formal analysis and comments from GEA on how California can meet near-term RPS requirements through an increased reliance on geothermal energy in a report to the state's Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) process. GEA’s August 2009 comments entitled Ensuring Reliable, Baseload Renewable Energy For The West By 2015 are available at: http://www.geo-energy.org/publications/reports/GEA_Final_Comments_RETI_Phase_2A_Report.pdf

The Largest Geothermal Gathering in the World Expected at Geothermal Expo in Reno

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), the geothermal industry's trade association is thrilled to be holding the Geothermal Energy Expo in tandem with the GRC's Annual Meeting, October 4th-7th. The Geothermal Energy Expo is the world's largest gathering of geothermal industry vendors exhibiting their projects, equipment, services and state of the art technology to the geothermal community. This year's Expo will host over 120 vendors.

You might see a few Stetson hats poking above the crowd, sport coats and ties, a good number of blue jeans and dusty hiking boots, and everything in between as thousands unite as geothermal enthusiasts. They will come from places as diverse as the companies they represent, and they will all be in Reno for the Geothermal Energy Expo.

At noon on Monday, October 5^th the Geothermal Energy Expo officially opens, featuring over 120 exhibits from companies ranging from Ormat Technologies to Gradient Geothermal. Regular events and speakers are scheduled for the Expo Hall from Monday at noon through noon on Wednesday. The Expo hours are: Monday, noon-5pm, Tuesday, 9am-6pm and Wednesday, 9am-2pm. Admission to the Expo on a daily basis is only $50 per person, per day.

A new addition to our annual Geothermal Energy Expo will be a FREE webcast from the Expo floor on Tuesday, October 6^th from 10am-2pm PT. This will enable like-minded individuals who can’t make the trip out to Reno to get the low-down on the geothermal companies presenting who will share their projects, equipment, services, and state-of-the-art technology. Registration will be FREE and can be made online at: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=61325.

We will also be bringing back last year’s popular Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament on Tuesday evening, October 6^th from 9pm to midnight. Also, don’t miss the GEA 2009 Best in Show award presentations in the Expo Hall on Wednesday, October 7^th at 11am where GEA will acknowledge the best of the best in geothermal exhibition.

Last year nearly 1800 people walked the Expo floor of the Geothermal Energy Expo, a mind-blowing 80% increase over the previous year. Our participants are expected to set records for us yet again.

To learn more about exhibitors, events, sponsorship, guest information, and to register, visit http://www.geothermalenergy2009.com/. (Booth space is sold out).