Clean Energy Advocates Converge at National SOLAR 2007 Conference during Public Day, Sunday, July 8

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CLEVELAND - Thousands of Ohioans and experts will unite to discuss Ohio’s commitment to renewable energy during Public Day on Sunday, July 8th from 10:00am – 5:00pm at the Cleveland Convention Center and held as a part of the National SOLAR 2007 conference held July 7-12. Daylong activities include free access into the sold-out exhibit hall featuring nearly 160 exhibitors, 40 consumer presentations, job recruitment with many clean energy companies, and the GEO Annual Meeting. Public Day is free and open to the public.

SOLAR 2007 is the 36th Annual National Solar Energy Conference - the largest and most prestigious annual gathering of sustainable energy professionals. It includes a technical conference, hands-on workshops, tours of renewable energy sites, consumer presentations and a Renewable Products and Services Tradeshow. A wide variety of forums, technical sessions, workshops, tours, and special events are also available for any interest level for those eager to learn more about renewable energy’s crucial role in our economic future.

The Green Energy Ohio (GEO) 7th Annual Meeting is also scheduled on Public Day from 1:00 – 2:30 pm. GEO will present its Annual Recognition Awards to outstanding individuals, businesses, and institutions who have demonstrated a commitment to sustainable energy options, policies, and projects in Ohio. Several Cleveland- area individuals, businesses, and institutions have been named in the GEO Annual Recognition Awards and will be honored at the GEO Annual Meeting on Sunday, July 8.

Award winners include: the Cleveland Convention & Visitors Bureau as GEO Business of the Year, the City of Oberlin and Oberlin College as GEO Clean Community of the Year, the Cleveland Sustainability Committee as GEO Pioneer of the Year, Entrepreneurs for Sustainability as GEO Nonprofit of the Year, and a Wayne County woman as GEO Volunteer of the Year.

The SOLAR 2007 National Conference is co-hosted by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, and Green Energy Ohio, the Ohio ASES chapter.

About Green Energy Ohio (GEO)

Green Energy Ohio (GEO) is a nonprofit organization that promotes economically and environmentally sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio. GEO conducts public outreach on all forms of renewable energy, serves as the Ohio ASES Chapter and local host of the National SOLAR 2007 conference. To learn how renewable energy can work for you, visit www.GreenEnergyOhio.org

Green Energy Ohio is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmentally and economically sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio. GEO is the Ohio Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society.

Editors’ Note

Recipients of Green Energy Ohio’s Annual Recognition Awards include: The GEO Clean Energy Community of the Year award, given to an Ohio community showing significant progress in energy sustainability is presented to the City of Oberlin and Oberlin College. This community and college have actively demonstrated their commitment to sustainability through many programs, including the Adam Joseph Lewis Center, known as a “living machine;" 100 kW solar electric parking pavilion, campus resource monitoring, and wind monitoring facility.

The GEO Nonprofit Group of the Year award is given to a nonprofit organization that actively promotes sustainable energy, and is presented to Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S). E4S has partnered with GEO on solar educational workshops held with the “Solar Challenge," a challenge to northeast Ohio to attract solar electric (PV) manufacturers and catalyze the solar industry in the region. E4S has also brought together a diverse group on sustainability issues.

The GEO Public Official of the Year award is presented to Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur for delivering funding to her northwest Ohio district to develop renewable energy resources at several locations, including Lucas County Port Authority, Bowling Green State University (Firelands), and two military installations, including the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio National Guard at the Toledo Express Airport, and the 200th Red Horse Civil Engineering Squadron at Camp Perry. Rep. Kaptur was the first Ohio Member of Congress to attend a GEO Solar Tour and participate in the Ohio Wind Working Group. Her longstanding support of renewable energy has also benefited the University of Toledo as well as the community and area businesses.

The GEO Business of the Year award is presented to The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland (CVB) for initiating a program in Cleveland to “green" the hospitality industry by encouraging hotels to make changes to processes, products, and services to be more sustainable. CVB also helped GEO secure the bid for SOLAR 2007, and provided support for the conference social event to be held at the Rock Hall.

The GEO Pioneer of the Year award is presented to the Cleveland Sustainability Program for creating the position of Sustainability Manager in the city’s Water Department, for at least a two-year commitment supported initially by the Cleveland and Gund foundations. Andrew Watterson’s superb work in that role has saved the city at least $.5 million in energy savings. Now, Andrew is a permanent employee, expanding the office with 5-7 more employees.

The GEO Volunteer of the Year awards are presented to Jerry Leard of Columbus, and Ruth Vandersall of Wayne County. Leard volunteers many hours in the GEO Columbus office, taking an active interest in learning about and promoting renewable energy as a reliable and economical energy source. Vandersall is active in the GEO Wayne County group, organizing many events on behalf of the organization, and dedicated to furthering renewable energy policies and practices in Ohio.

Media Contact:
Scott Wargo, Director of Media Relations
Oberlin College
440-775-5197 / Scott.Wargo@oberlin.edu