Alternative Energy Experts Coming to the Valley Forge Convention Center June 11-12

The Solar and Wind Expo will take place at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa. The indoor-outdoor event will be held on June 11 - 12, with media day on June 10. It is the first consumer show of its kind in the state devoted to renewable energy and includes free educational seminars for the consumer.

"Never has there been a better time for this kind of show," declares businessman and alternative energy advocate George Lopez, who is the Expo's founder and executive director. "With all the technological advances, the government-sponsored incentives and the desire of so many to save money on energy and reduce their carbon footprint, all that was missing is a place for all parties to connect... and now we have that at Valley Forge!"

The Expo's keynote speaker is Bob Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg, Kansas, whose town was decimated by an F5 tornado in 2007. One of the strongest in recorded history, the tornado destroyed 95 percent of the town. Its residents chose to rebuild Greensburg as a truly green town, utilizing alternative energy and green construction approaches. Greensburg, as the first city in the country to go entirely green, is a shining example of how becoming sustainable is both viable and economically beneficial.

Mayor Dixson has been formally recognized for his leadership role in rebuilding every structure in Greensburg to meet the highest United States Green Building Council certification, LEED Platinum -- most notably with an invitation to address a joint session of Congress on the topic of rebuilding in this manner.

"We demonstrated at last year's Maryland Expo that this is the time for this kind of show because people are enthusiastic about harnessing the wind and the sun, but they have a lot of questions," said Lopez.

"It was a great opportunity for consumers to become more aware of renewable energy alternatives," said Sheila Dillard, EERE-Technology Advancement and Outreach official, U.S. Department of Energy, speaking about the 2010 Solar and Wind Expo held in Maryland.

The Pennsylvania Expo will give visitors the opportunity to browse exhibits and hear top experts in the field of renewable energy, including solar, wind, geothermal, electric vehicles and more. Through free seminars provided by these experts, they will learn how to implement solutions that are available today.