COAL-GEN Announces 2007 Show Report

TULSA, Okla., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Now in its 8th year, COAL-GEN has established itself as the pre-eminent technical conference and tradeshow event in the U.S. coal-fired power sector. COAL-GEN was launched in the summer of 2001 when it was becoming clear that natural gas prices were moving well above — and would remain well above — the $2.50 per million Btu range that had spurred the natural gas-fueled power plant building boom over the preceding 15 years. Beginning modestly in a hotel banquet room in Chicago, Illinois with just over 500 persons and 54 exhibitors, COAL-GEN moved to America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri the following year where attendance and exhibitors more than doubled. Exponential growth continued in subsequent years. COAL-GEN has consistently enjoyed the support and sponsorship of local utilities in each of its host cities as well as co-sponsorship by major companies engaged in power generation. Other host cities have been Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri; San Antonio, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2008, COAL-GEN moves to Louisville, Kentucky, then to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2009.

Over 750 people attended the opening keynote session in Milwaukee in August 2007, where they heard from an executive responsible for building more than 1,200 MW of new coal capacity for We Energies (the host utility), a former EPA administrator and one of the nation’s leading environmental attorneys, an energy technology expert for the world’s leading energy consultancy, and a representative of a group supporting renewables and conservation engage in a lively discussion of U.S. electric power issues. Twenty-five technical sessions spread across five conference tracks drew consistently high attendance. Two mega-sessions also played to large audiences, and a technical tour of a local coal plant — where two new supercritical units are under construction and four existing units are being updated — was fully subscribed. COAL-GEN 2007 also had a large co-located event sponsored by a major coal-sector manufacturer and three pre-conference workshops on specific areas of interest to coal plant employees.

For 2008, COAL-GEN plans to add an additional technical track — devoted exclusively to issues surrounding coal gasification, including the production of substitute natural gas through the gasification of coal. The track will also address integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology and issues and technology tied to carbon capture and sequestration. COAL-GEN will also be increasing its efforts to attract utility attendance by instituting an alumni program specifically targeting past attendees. COAL-GEN will also increase promotion of its Energy Provider Program that allows investor-owned utilities, municipals, electric cooperatives and independent power producers to send an unlimited number of employees as conference delegates for less than the cost of one regular conference fee. E.ON US, COAL-GEN host utility and event sponsor for 2008 is leveraging assistance at the state level to market the event.

  2007 Statistics:

  — 43,100 square feet exhibit space occupied

  — 245 exhibiting companies

  — 13 international exhibitors

  — Attendance from 48 states and 23 countries

  Details on COAL-GEN 2008 can be found at http://www.coal-gen.com/.

Established in 1896, Power Engineering magazine is the comprehensive voice of the power generation industry that provides readers with the critical information needed to remain efficient and competitive in today’s market. For three years in a row, Power Engineering has been named the most read and useful magazine in the power industry. http://www.power-eng.com/.

Established in 1910, PennWell is a highly diversified media and information company providing 50-plus print and online publications, more than 60 conferences and exhibitions, research, databases, Internet-based services and other information products to strategic global markets. In addition to oil and gas, these markets include electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, lasers, communications, computer graphics, information technology, control technology, electric power, water, fire services and dental. PennWell’s headquarters are in Tulsa, Okla., with regional offices in Nashua, NH, Houston, Tex., Seattle, Wash., Fair Lawn, NJ, and other US cities. International offices are located in England, Germany, Russia and Hong Kong. http://www.pennwell.com/.

Contact: Bill Langenheim bill@pennwell.com

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Source: PennWell

CONTACT: Bill Langenheim of PennWell, +1-918-832-9256, fax,
+1-918-831-9875, bill@pennwell.com

Web site: http://www.pennwell.com/
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