First Alaska Clean Energy Symposium to Explore Clean Energy, Fuels and Technologies
WestStart-CALSTART via BizWire
PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2004--
WestStart & US Army National Automotive Center (NAC)
Organize Innovative Industry/Policy/Military Conference
to Advance National Dialog on Clean Energy
In the face of rapidly rising fuel costs, what are the clean
energy sources and fuels of the nation's future, and what technologies
are emerging to use them? These will be some of the issues tackled and
addressed by industry, military and policy-maker leaders in the first
Alaska Clean Energy Symposium, set for May 25-27 in Anchorage, Alaska.
This interactive two-day symposium, which also features a half-day
of vehicle exhibits and optional technology tours, is designed to
advance the national dialog on clean energy and technology. Organized
by WestStart-CALSTART and the US Army National Automotive Center
(NAC), the symposium will explore what clean energy sources, fuels and
technologies are available or emerging, and how to make them more
available for commercial and military applications in both mobile and
stationary roles.
The Alaskan setting is particularly fitting, as the state
represents a tremendous source of current and potential future energy
for the nation. What will be the clean energy sources from and for
Alaska? What are Alaska's potential roles? These issues will be
addressed by several influential Alaska state and congressional
policy-makers, including U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), an
invited keynote speaker.
The symposium will feature sessions on:
-- Sources of clean energy -- including natural gas and hydrogen;
-- Clean energy technologies -- including advanced propulsion and
generation systems, fuel cells, energy storage systems and
infrastructure;
-- Clean energy programs -- including gas-to-liquids (GTL) and
hybrid trucks; and
-- Military strategies for clean fuels and vehicles -- including
field power generation, advanced combat vehicles and fuel
logistics.
Full agenda and registration information is available online at
www.weststart.org.
Coupled with the actual symposium sessions, part of one day is
devoted to an impressive vehicle and technology demonstration
featuring 15 advanced hybrid and fuel cell vehicles and exhibits, from
40-ton trucks to one-person vehicles. The displays will be hosted at
Elmendorf Air Force Base. There will also be two optional tours of
Alaska advanced fuels and testing facilities: BP's GTL Research Plant
in Nikiski; and the U.S. Army's Cold Regions Test Center in Delta
Junction.
"Given rising fuel prices and the national security concerns of
our current sources of conventional energy, the time has come to chart
a new course," noted John Boesel, president and CEO of
WestStart-CALSTART. "We need to look at new, clean sources of energy
and the technologies they can power for environmental and security
reasons."
The Alaska Clean Energy Symposium is structured to explore these
issues and to gather thoughts and information about them by
encouraging questions and dialogue during the sessions. Each session
will include an opportunity to capture key points and possible next
steps. A hosted kick-off reception launches the symposium the evening
of May 25, with a welcome from Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. The
symposium's list of unique speakers includes inventor Dean Kamen, who
developed the Segway vehicle, and an impressive array of energy and
technology experts.
The symposium has garnered strong Alaskan and energy technology
support. In addition to the NAC, early symposium sponsors include:
Federal Transit Administration; Department of Energy; Denali
Commission; Koniag; ICRC; and the Fairbanks Economic Development
Corporation. For information on sponsorship and hosting opportunities,
please contact WestStart-CALSTART's Susan Romeo at
sro...@weststart.org.
WestStart-CALSTART is North America's leading advanced
transportation technologies consortium. It is a fuel neutral,
participant-supported organization of more than 115 companies and
agencies, dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech
transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs and improves
energy efficiency. WestStart-CALSTART plays a leading national role to
facilitate the development of advanced propulsion systems and
alternative fuels in the transit and heavy-duty vehicle industry. Its
California operating division does business as CALSTART. Visit
www.weststart.org for more information.