FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:     Becky Campbell-Howe
American Solar Energy Society

303.443.3130 x103, bchowe@ases.org

 SOLAR 2009 Committee Selects Buffalo

Passionate support for renewable energy and recent economic development
in the region makes Buffalo the winning city for 2009

BOULDER, CO – The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) has selected Buffalo as the location of its National Solar Energy Conference in 2009.

Commonly known as SOLAR 2009, it’s the premier conference on renewable energy and energy efficiency in the nation – and one of the largest.  SOLAR 2009 is expected to attract more than 5,000 people to downtown Buffalo, with participants traveling from across the U.S. and internationally.

SOLAR 2009 is forecasted to pump $3-6 million to the region, benefiting local businesses, boosting the economy, and generating tax revenue. A recent economic report by ASES determined that, in 2006, the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors generated 8.5 million jobs and nearly a trillion dollars in revenue in the U.S.

“There is a tremendous amount of interest in renewable energy across the nation,” said Becky Campbell-Howe, Director of Operations at ASES who oversees the annual conference. “But we were particularly impressed by the excitement about renewable energy in the Buffalo region.”

Reasons for selecting Buffalo include:

• Passionate support for renewable energy by local leaders
• Recent economic development within the region
• The opportunity to partner with policy-makers to expand the use of renewable energy

SOLAR 2009 will take place at the Buffalo Convention Center during May 8-14, 2009. It will mark the 37th year of this annual conference. The exhibit hall will be open to the general public. Others interested in learning about renewable energy can choose from dozens of sessions by leading renewable energy experts.

ASES will partner with several local and regional organizations to make SOLAR 2009 a success, including:

• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
• Western New York Sustainable Energy Association Trust
• New York Solar Energy Industry Association
• New York Solar Energy Society
• Canadian Solar Industry Association

Before this conference reaches Buffalo, the renewable energy industry will head to San Diego for SOLAR 2008, coming up May 3-8, 2008. Conference details are at: www.ases.org/solar2008

About the American Solar Energy Society

Founded in 1954, American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies in the U.S.  ASES organizes and presents SOLAR 2008, leads the ASES National Solar Tour, and publishes SOLAR TODAY magazine.  Learn more at: www.ases.org

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