This blog entry is a guest post from American Wind Energy Association’s Stefanie Brown. This blog series is part of the Southern Wind Energy Association’s Windy Wednesday series leading up to the wind energy industry’s largest annual event, WINDPOWER 2016, being hosted in New Orleans May 23-26. Registration and details available here. You can read the other blogs in this series by clicking on #WindyWednesday.
We recently went down to New Orleans to finalize all the plans for AWEA WINDPOWER 2016 Conference & Exhibition, opening just two weeks from today. It’s the first time our annual conference has come to the Big Easy, and I wanted to show you firsthand how everything is shaping up to make for a tremendous event- more sessions, exhibitors, speakers, networking opportunities and attendees than last year. I hope you can all join us for the “refreshed” conference this year and experience what it means to be a part of #GenerationWind.
You’ve got to love a city that welcomes you with live music at the airport! For those arriving on Monday, May 23rd be sure to check out the tuba cover for a familiar image.
Join us at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Tuesday morning for the Welcome & Opening General Session at 9:00 a.m., followed by your first chance to check out the exhibition hall, featuring over 420 booths PLUS all five education stations, on the show floor for the first time this year. Over 100 sessions and presentations will run throughout the event, open to anyone in the exhibit hall!
Don’t forget about the DISCOVER New Orleans – Mingle on the Mississippi special event taking place on Wednesday, May 25 from 6:30 – 9:00 pm. This Wind Energy Foundation fundraiser will be held on the Steamboat Natchez, one of the last authentic steamboats on the Mississippi!
We had a chance to take the cruise and think you’ll enjoy all of the beautiful city views while networking with fellow WINDPOWER participants. And even better, a live performance by the legendary Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers.
In line with AWEA’s core values as well as our event sustainability policy, we held a meeting with everyone involved on-site to ensure WINDPOWER is as eco-friendly as possible, including checking out their recycling and composting programs.
We were also fortunate to visit the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter and were given a tour of the facility that will benefit from the toiletry kits that we will be creating on-site in the exhibit hall through Clean the World. Any left-over supplies or exhibitor booth donations will also benefit the shelter. An impressive organization that opened its first facility immediately after Hurricane Katrina, they are the largest organization serving homeless women and children in New Orleans, helping them transition to a path of stability and self-sufficiency. Thank you to our guide, Ms. Deidre Braneon “Ms. D”.
You can’t go to New Orleans and not enjoy music at every turn! We went to check out some of the musicians who would be playing at various events throughout the conference and can’t wait to share the experience with you.
New Orleans is known for its food nearly as much as for music so we had to taste a few of the items being considered for the Opening Reception and WindPAC Receptions. Plus a stop by Café du Monde for some hot beignets is always in order!
New Orleans is looking forward to welcoming all of the AWEA WINDPOWER 2016 attendees and exhibitors, as are the AWEA staff. See you soon!