Wind and Solar Join Forces to Enhance Canada's Two Largest Renewable Energy Events

First step toward greater collaboration between CanWEA and CanSIA

OTTAWA, Sept. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - The country's national wind energy and solar industry associations today announced they are partnering to enhance the value for individuals and companies attending both of Canada's largest premier renewable energy events. The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) and Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) will offer discounts to exhibitors and delegates who attend both shows in 2013 and will also support cross sales activity at their respective industry events, making it easier and more cost-effective for renewable energy participants to attend both shows.

"We are extremely excited to work with CanSIA to enhance the ability of renewable energy business leaders to meet and discuss the opportunities before us and the challenges we face in the Canadian market," said Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA. "As we share many of the same corporate members, this partnership to provide savings and easier access at Canada's leading renewable energy events is a win-win for all involved. It is also only a first step. CanWEA and CanSIA are currently finalizing additional collaborative initiatives with respect to our events programming that will be announced in the near future to provide even greater benefits to the members of both our organizations who represent Canada's renewable energy industry leaders."
"This collaboration reflects the reality that the renewable energy market in Canada is growing beyond individual technologies and select provinces," said John Gorman, president of CanSIA. "The members of our organizations are asking that we build on this momentum and our successful tradition of high quality events programming. They recognize and understand that support for our events is important for the renewable energy industry because every dollar invested in these events is reinvested on their behalf to advance good policy and open new markets for their businesses in Canada."

Canada's two largest renewable energy events feature exhibits with manufacturers, developers and strategic service providers. Programming includes information sessions with Canadian and international business leaders and technical experts, networking opportunities and targeted B2B marketing opportunities. CanWEA 2013 will be held in Toronto October 7 to 10; CanSIA 2013 will be held in Toronto December 9 to 10.

CanWEA is the voice of Canada's wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy on behalf of its more than 400 members. A national non-profit association, CanWEA serves as Canada's leading source of credible information about wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits. To join other global leaders in the wind energy industry, CanWEA believes Canada can and must reach its target of producing 20 per cent or more of the country's electricity from wind by 2025. The document Wind Vision 2025 - Powering Canada's Future is available at www.canwea.ca.

The Canadian Solar Industries Association is a national trade association that represents more than 650 solar energy companies throughout Canada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy industry with capacity to provide innovative solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean-energy future. More information about CanSIA and its regional and national events can be found at www.cansia.ca.

SOURCE: CANADIAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION