"The Opportunities and Challenges of the Pennsylvania Renewable Portfolio Standard: Emerging Technologies, Regulations, and Institutions" is the theme for the 2006 Goddard Forum to be held on January 30 and 31 in State College.

The Sixth Goddard Forum will investigate the challenges in implementing the Pennsylvania Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)--established by the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act--and other ways to bring about a sustainable energy future.

The forum will examine the Pennsylvania RPS and its regulations, the new federal energy act, and experiences under other programs for promoting sustainable energy. The forum will examine legal and ethical issues, financial issues, and available technologies. It will also focus on the next steps that states can take to move to a more sustainable-energy future.

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty and Rep. Chris Ross (R-Chester), who authored the Pennsylvania RPS, have both been invited to participate as luncheon speakers.

Other speakers will include representatives from companies involved in providing renewable energy, academic institutions, and environmental groups; state regulators; environmental and energy lawyers; engineers; and those involved in finance.

Those who will benefit from this conference include representatives from utilities, energy companies, and other industries who will be involved in implementation of the RPS; environmental and energy lawyers; government officials; environmental and energy consultants; representatives from environmental groups and other concerned citizens; and those involved in research focusing on energy, the environment, and sustainable futures.

Credit for continuing legal education (CLE) will be sought. CEU certificates for continuing education in engineering will be provided to all participants.

The Goddard Forum is an outreach program of Penn State's Maurice K. Goddard Chair in Forestry and Environmental Resource Conservation. It's co-sponsored by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences' Environment and Natural Resources Institute, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

The regular fee for the program is $295. Students, government and nonprofit organization can attend for $245.

For more information visit the Goddard Forum webpage or call 800-PSU-TODAY (778-8632).

11/18/2005