College of Agriculture and Technology to host renewable energy conference
JONESBORO – As part of its commitment to actively promote renewable energy development in the region, the College of Agriculture and Technology will host a conference Friday, Sept. 19, at Arkansas State University.
The fourth annual Renewable Energy Conference will feature invited speakers from industry, outreach, government, research, and education sectors. In addition, several A-State students will be making research poster presentations.
"The experts will provide an overview of current efforts and challenges in several areas of renewable energy, energy conservation and efficiency," commented Dr. Rajesh Sharma, assistant professor of renewable energy technology and organizer of the conference.
Starting at 9 a.m., sessions will be in the Mockingbird Room of the Carl R. Reng Student Union, 101 N. Caraway Road. Admission is free, but registration is required.
Confirmed speakers include Marvin Burchfield, vice president, Solid Fuel Business Unit, FSE Energy, Covington, La.; William Ball, president, Natural Environments Inc. and owner, Stellar Sun, Little Rock; Tami Hornbeck, director of entrepreneurship initiatives, Alt consulting, and Ralph Relyea, mayor of DeWitt.
Others are Lance Orton, energy efficiency consultant, Center Point Energy; Douglas Hutchings, CEO Picasolar Inc, Fayetteville; Frank Kelly, president, Solar Source Consulting and chairman, Arkansas Renewable Energy Association, Little Rock; and Priyanka Mahale, Arizona State University.
The speaker line-up also includes Darin Nutter, director of Arkansas Industrial Energy Clearinghouse and professor, department of mechanical engineering, University of Arkansas; Dan Mickelson, director of client services, Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, Fayetteville; Shawn Brewer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Little Rock, and Sandeep Pednekar, CEO, Advent Enterprises, Memphis.
Conference co-sponsors are Centerpoint Energy, Clean Line Energy Partners and Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation.
The conference is free, but participants need to register by Sept. 12 to reserve a space. A buffet lunch is included.
Registration information and conference details are available at the College of Agriculture and Technology website, AState.edu/college/agriculture-and-technology/. Inquiries may be directed to Sharma at (870) 972-2270 or rsharma@astate.edu.
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