The West Virginia Division of Energy (WVDOE) and the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at Marshall University have partnered to host the “Renewable Energy in West Virginia: Projects and Prospects in 2016” conference Thursday, May 12, at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall in Huntington. The conference will bring together organizations and individuals with experience implementing and managing renewable energy projects in West Virginia.

This event will feature presentations from West Virginia-based business, research and project development leaders in the realm of renewable energy. Attendees will learn about a wide variety of projects underway in the areas of hydropower, solar, enhanced geothermal, biomass, CO2 uptake by forests and production of CO2 offsets through reforestation. Projects include current production and development efforts as well as ideas to expand future resource utilization.

The WVDOE is responsible for advancing energy development in West Virginia, and part of the division’s focus is on renewable energy sources. In order to support renewable energy development, the WVDOE co-hosts an energy conference with CBER on a bi-annual basis.

“West Virginia has a competitive economic advantage in energy development,” said Jeff Herholdt, director of WVDOE. “This advantage extends to our renewable energy resources.”

The conference will feature speakers representing organizations including Advanced Hydro Solutions, Appalachian Power, CEGAS/WVBAC, Geostellar, Hamer Pellet Fuels, the Marshall University Chemistry Department, STF Group, Inc., Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund, Inc., West Virginia University, and West Virginia State University’s Energy and Environmental Science Institute.

The event is free and open to the public; however, all participants must register for the event in order to attend. Additional conference details, including presentation topics, speakers, and registration are available on the event registration page. Visit marshall.edu/cber for more information.