The U.S. Department of State has officially committed to be the global host for the 2008 Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008). Approximately 5,000 attendees are expected to take part in the international event, including delegates from 150 countries.
The WIREC 2008 conference concept, in large part driven by the Washington, DC-based American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), was announced as a nearly completed 'done deal' at the organization's national policy conference held in November 2006.
While the U.S. State Department's official acceptance letter was issued in December, the agreement's sign-off to launch fundraising was finalized yesterday for the $10 million public-private event.
Planned for March 1-7, 2008 in Washington, DC, the immediate task will be to fund the multi-million dollar venture — which is being coordinated and managed by ACORE.
"Our Board Co-chairs, John Geesman and Dan Reicher, and our Fundraising Chairman Howard Berke, are leading our Board, Advisors, and Members in this great initiative," said ACORE's President Michael Eckhart.
"I am pleased to have ACORE accept this role, and work with the State Department to plan and fund this once-ever global meeting," added Eckhart.
The global conference will build on similar conferences held in Bonn, Germany in 2004 and Beijing, China in 2005. Those landmark conferences focused on national Action Plans, with respect for sovereignty, independence, and voluntary collaboration among nations. WIREC 2008 will continue that theme, encouraging continued voluntary collaboration among nations.
The official part of the conference will include a Ministerial Meeting for energy and environment ministers and other stakeholders, and a Parliamentary Meeting for members of elected legislatures.
In addition, Power-Gen Renewable Energy & Fuels trade show will be co-located with WIREC 2008, and it is anticipated that 50 to 100 official side events will be held by States, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational organizations.
Fundraising for the event is already under way with key sponsorship opportunities available to global companies and organizations.
