An international conference on renewable energy is scheduled for this Thursday through Sunday in southeast Iowa. The conference is called "Renewable on Parade." Cari Widdel is with the Washington, Iowa based business development company Pohaku Incorporated, which organized the event says Washington County is the only county in the country with two operating biodiesel plants.
There will be over 50 national speakers, including former CIA Director James Woolsey, who is a renewable energy advocate. "Jim will speak on the fact that he believes renewable energy is not an option, it’s an issue of national security," Widdel says.
Other speakers include; former ADM Executive Martin Andreas, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr, and Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Lang. Widdel says a business conference will take place in Riverside on Friday and Saturday.
Widdel says the event is designed to bring together renewable energy suppliers with consumers, governments, industry, and financial or academic institutions. More information about the conference is available online at www.RenewableOnParade.com .