Natural Resources Canada
98/31
May 1, 1998

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROBES ENERGY OPTIONS FOR COUNTRIES WITH COLD CLIMATES

MONTREAL — Recognizing that inclement weather often affects energy delivery in countries with cold climates, more than 350 delegates from 20 countries will gather in Montréal from May 4 to May 6 at the international Renewable Energy Technologies in Cold Climates Conference 1998 (RETCCC '98) to explore options for adapting renewable energy technologies to this market.

"Renewable energy technologies have a critical role to play in helping us to meet our international targets to reduce climate change," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). "The further development and deployment of these clean energy technologies also present opportunities for economic expansion, job creation, technological advancement and export growth."

" In Quebec, we have been faced with a considerable challenge in adapting to the severity of our weather, which has helped to shape the genius and inventiveness of the men and women who live here," said Guy Chevrette, Minister of Ressources naturelles Québec. "I will be talking more about this subject at the banquet that closes the first day of the conference."

RETCCC '98, which takes place at the Radisson Hôtel des Gouverneurs, incorporates this year's Solar Energy Society of Canada Inc.'s (SESCI) conference. It will focus on renewable energy applications, such as solar, bioenergy, wind and small hydro, in cold climates, where inclement weather affects energy system performance and reliability.

A free public forum on climate change and energy options will be held at 7 p.m. on May 5. The general public is invited to visit the conference trade show, to hear presentations from experts and to exchange questions and answers with them that evening.

The conference will feature over 100 presentations by experts from government and industry, as well as a Renewable Energy Trade Show featuring 30 exhibitors. Delegates will discuss global perspectives on market prospects, environmental issues, ramifications of utility restructuring and industrial potential, as well as incentives for and barriers to using renewable energy such as techno-economic maturity, regulatory environment and financing.

"RETCCC '98 has attracted an impressive number of highly distinguished participants, making it the most important gathering of the renewable energy industry in Canada this year," commented Stephen Pope, President of SESCI. "We are confident that new business partnerships and research alliances will be formed as a result of this event."

RETCCC '98 is jointly sponsored by NRCan, the Ministère des ressources naturelles du Québec, SESCI, the Canadian Wind Energy Association, the Canadian Solar Industries Association and Énergie solaire Québec.

For more information, contact:

May 1, 1998

Sunni Locatelli,
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Tel.: (613) 992-4447

or

May 4-6, 1998

Media Centre
Renewable Energy Technology in Cold
Climates Conference 1998
Tel.: (514) 879-1370 or (613) 798-6607
Fax: (514) 879-1761