“The coma should lift by Saturday,” Ned Doyle jokes. Having been at the WNC Agricultural Center for nearly a week to help set up, manage and break down last weekend’s annual Southern Energy and Environment Expo, he’s in a recovery phase.
An estimated 7,600 people turned out — several hundred less than last year — to learn from the green-businesses and conservation organizations that set up exhibits and led workshops. Despite a downpour on Friday afternoon that sent the participants of one outdoor workshop fleeing for cover, most of the informational sessions were packed, Doyle says.
The Sustainable Energy Council of Western North Carolina, a group that was conceived of in the wake of Progress Energy’s move to create a Community Energy Advisory Council, is open to any member wishing to join. The group, which is focused on energy efficiency and sustainable alternatives for the region, convened its first meeting at the SEE Expo. Other workshops focused on biofuels, green buiding, clean cars, renewable-energy options and informational sessions about climate change. Even the food was better this year, with hummus wraps, burritos and other healthy grub in addition to the standard fare at the concession stand.
“The volunteers were awesome,” Doyle adds. All in all, he says, this year’s expo was “a total success.”
Did you go? What did you come away with? Feel free to share.
— Rebecca Bowe, contributing editor
I came away with a feeling that what ever I have at the moment, to deal with the food and fuel thing, is what I’ll have to go with into this time of social and economic unrest.
If I had everything I could think of…someone for sure would come over and steal it.