Chief of Staff

The Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) is directed by former Governor Bill Ritter.  CNEE works toward the advancement of clean energy policy at the state level.  Ritter takes the CNEE message nationally through speaking events about clean energy.  The CNEE has partnered with the East China Normal University which seems to be strategic in that China was number one in all renewable index rankings for 2011 and 2010, reported Ernst & Young.

“We need a national energy policy,” Ritter.  Ritter states the clean energy agenda is really about emissions for example natural gas emissions.  Questioning what forms of energy are most efficient has several factors such as the natural environment of a location.  The factors are numerous however the Feds have some legislation on clean energy.

In the U.S. Federal government the clean energy agenda is basically looking at two issues; one is Property-Assessed Clean Energy, (PACE) financing and two the extension of the production tax credit which the wind energy industry relies upon.

At the state level best practices in extraction and efficiency are being discussed.  The CNEE has worked with about 10 states in advancing clean energy policies.

“What’s really interesting is one size doesn’t fit all, so it is important to tailor our work in states to the resources available in the state—to the economic landscape to some extent—to the way that they are generating electricity, to think about that and what that transition is going to involve.  Interestingly transmission—it’s very difficult and sort of a sophisticated topic but the transmission infrastructure matters a lot because of interconnection—pulling renewables onto the grid can be a very difficult thing to do,” Ritter.

“I think energy is one of those things that should not be all about politics but somehow this debate over whether climate change is real or not, is sort of sucked into it, the whole conversation around clean energy including things like energy efficiency.  It’s about saving energy and good business practices,” Ritter.

Clean energy policy groups such as the Energy Foundation out of San Francisco, Hewlett Foundation, Packard Foundation and the McKnight Foundation fund CNEE.

To read more about the Center for the New Energy Economy, visit; http://cnee.colostate.edu/.

To view the full interview, visit; http://youtu.be/JrnCbJBsEro.

Alexandra Mitchell

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Martha Butwin is the senior international trade specialist at the Denver Export Assistance Center, (DEAC).  Some of the programs offered by DEAC are the Trade Fair Certification and Buyers programs.  DEAC’s two types of trade shows are certified and international buyer trade shows.  Each trade show is usually industry specific.  If the trade show has certification the U.S. Commercial Service and U.S. Embassy will support U.S companies in attending the trade show which increases the comfort level of partnerships. To contact the state of Colorado about exporting and trade show opportunities contact Thomas Binet at 303-892-3813 or Thomas.binet@state.co.us.  To contact Martha Butwin email her at Martha.butwin@trade.gov or call 303-844-6623 ext. 221

Each trade show is a cooperative partnership arrangement between private sector show organizers and the U.S. government.  The International Business Center within each trade shows offers both foreign and domestic industry networking with potential partners.

Wayne Kakos and Christina Alonge from Reed Exhibitions, which is the premier company in trade shows, help companies increase profits through international trade shows.  International trade shows are similar to domestic trade shows due to Reed Exhibitions pre-set-up and organization.  Reed Exhibitions holds over 500 trade shows both domestic and international.  They offer turn-key service options where everything is ready and set-up, a company only has to set-up graphics and the small stuff.

One of Reed Exhibition’s certified trade shows is the World Smart Energy Week in Tokyo, Japan, held on February 29^th, 2012.  They will be in the U.S. pavilion during that trade show.  This trade show focuses on renewable energy in Japan.  The trade show is separated into seven different expos, presented in one location as one trade show.  Each of the seven specifically focuses on one type of clean energy.  If you are green you are there in Tokyo.  The trade show ends March 2^nd 2012.  20,000 exhibitors and 120 attendees are expected to be in attendance since the isles are jam-packed last year.

Now is the time to enter this market as Japan moves to reach their future energy goals.   For U.S. companies at show the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialists in the Asian clean energy market will assist companies with the regions clean energy sector.

For more information call Wayne Kakos at 203-840-5875 or email him at, wkakos@reedexpo.com.

Also check out Reed Exhibitions at, www.reedexpo.com

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