Feel the power!

 On Saturday, June 23, noon–5 p.m., get inspired by one of the year’s longest days of sunshine to explore the realm of clean energy live, up close and in a touch-it, feel-it kind of way. It’s the FREE expo day of Groundwork’s Michigan Clean Energy Conference & Expo, and the Aero Park Campus of Northwestern Michigan college will be buzzing with clean energy possibilities for your home, business and lifestyle.

 Come ready to be surprised, because odds are clean energy technology is further along than you might suspect. Prices for solar, wind and other clean energy technologies have dropped dramatically in recent years—talk to vendors of the various technologies to get a nuanced understanding of what might work for you. Take the conversation further by talking through financing options with Michigan Saves, a state-sponsored organization designed to help homeowners purchase clean energy technology.

 Tech fans will enjoy just wandering among the clean energy gear, checking out solar panels and wind turbines up close, sliding into the seat of a Tesla and other leading electric cars, looking under the hood to see just exactly what’s in there making the car go.

One presentation we are really looking forward to: the builder of a net-zero energy home development near Traverse City will discuss his progress and the possibilities of low-energy living.

 People looking to make a career of renewable energy will also find possibilities at the Expo. NMC will be on hand to discuss its leading-edge clean energy studies program and the job opportunities that lie at the point of graduation. For clean energy job seekers, network opportunities exist with the many vendors who will be manning booths.

 We designed the Expo with kids in mind, too, because the future revealed in the day’s exhibits is their future! Of course they will love sitting in the seat of a car that drives itself, but beyond that, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum will be there in force with fun experiments and exhibits that get kids playing in ways that also reveal the power potential of clean energy.

 The free Expo day is part of Groundwork’s Michigan Clean Energy Conference & Expo, which runs June 21–23, Traverse City. The event kicks off with a reception the evening of Thursday, June 21 at The Little Fleet. Friday’s conference at the Hagerty Center brings together a mix of international, regional and local thought leaders on clean energy to discuss ideas both visionary and practical. Agenda and speaker bios at micleanenergyconference.org!