David Blume, Steven Kretzmann, Scot Horst, Thomas H. Greco, Jr., Brian Tokar and Brendan I. Koerner Head the Line-Up as MAREA Opens Registration for the Nation’s Largest East Coast Renewable Energy Expo

PHILADELPHIA--The MidAtlantic Renewable Energy Association (MAREA) announced today that it has completed its speaker and program development and is opening registration for its coming Fifth Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Festival. Spanning three full days, the event will take place on 66 acres in a beautiful rural setting near Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary: The Kempton Community Center, Kempton, Berks County, PA. The event runs Fri., Sat. and Sun., Sept. 18 - 20, 2009. To learn more about the festival visit the website at: www.paenergyfest.com.

Organized by MAREA, the event is one of the largest Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festivals in the country. Last year more than 10,000 people attended talks and exhibits by the leading renewable energy companies in the world. This year’s event registration is expected to be even greater.

“There has never been a more important time for people to educate themselves regarding ways in which to develop truly sustainable lifestyles,” said Archie Follweiler, President, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Assoc. “We have added some of the leading thinkers and innovators in the sustainability movement to the program this year. Together with our exhibitors, they will demonstrate practical steps people everywhere can take to develop sustainable solutions to food production, the development of clean renewable fuel and energy sources as well as ways to create new, non-exportable job opportunities for themselves, their families and their communities.”

The Festival features more than 60 lectures, and 140 exhibits, as well as a two and a half day hands-on Alcohol Fuel production workshop led by Permaculture and BioFuels expert and author David Blume. Additional Keynote presenters include: Steven Kretzmann - Executive Director, Oil Change International "Climate Justice and The True Price of Oil", Scot Horst - "Federal Level Green Vision”, Thomas H. Greco, Jr. "The End of Money: The Soft Path Toward a Sustainable, Regenerative Economy”, Brian Tokar "Renewing Energy and Renewing Society " Brendan I. Koerner “Transforming the Grid, Transforming America” and features many other sessions as well.

The event program includes an entire section dedicated to transportation, showcasing some of the most efficient vehicles on the market today, as well as some innovative ideas from the past and present and will feature live music and entertainment by leading recording artists including: Paul Winter and the Taiko Drummers as well as an earth friendly art show, organic fashion show, children’s activities, delicious natural food, a farmers market full of local produce sponsored by Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) and much more.

Sponsors for The Fifth Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Festival include: Appleby Systems, Inc., Delaware Valley Green Building Council, Eagle Solar Energy, LLC, The JDK Group. LLC, Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, NaturaLawn of America, Reading & Northern Railroad, Rodale Institute, Shumei of America, Solar Technology Solutions, PASA, East Penn Manufacturing, Sierra Club of PA, Silvermaple, Advanced Solar Industries, Air Quality Partnership of Lehigh Valley-Berks. EMS Energy Institute (Penn State), Kutztown University, Back Home, Baum Construction, Berks Solar, Bullfrog films, Business 2 Business Magazine, Environmental Management Systems, Fleetwood Bank, Fossil Free Fuels, GRID Magazine, Hand in Hand, Keith Brintzenhoff, Kutztown Folk Festival, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, Pretty Dirty Ladies, Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF), Write On.

About the MidAtlantic Renewable Energy Association:

MAREA, www.themarea.org, formed in 2005, is a nonprofit, grassroots educational organization that supports citizen participation in renewable energy and sustainable living projects. One of the goals of the organization is to give back to the community. A portion of the profits from the festival will be used for renewable energy projects in local communities. In 2007, solar panels were installed on the Kempton Fire Co., in 2008 a Skystream electricity generating wind turbine was installed at the Kempton Community Center, and this year a workshop is planned to install a solar hot water system on Opportunity House in Reading, PA. Opportunity House is a multi-service organization that improves the quality of life for children, families and adults and supports their efforts to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and well-being.

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