Support your national and international geothermal associations
GEA Geothermal Expo 2012, Reno, Nevada (source: thinkgeoenergy)
Alexander Richter
4 Nov 2013
Geothermal Energy Associations need your support. Help your national or international associations through membership, sponsorships and general involvement and help promote geothermal and lobbying efforts for it.
Being a board member of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) and the International Geothermal Association, and previously on the board of GEA, I now how challenging it is for industry associations to run events and how crucial they are in rallying up the industry to move it forward.
In its first issue, the Think GEOENERGY Magazine, discusses associations and their role and actually interviews a number of the associations’ executive directors. Here below a short snapshot from the article as it appears in the magazine.
Various types of associations Industry associations, per definition, play an institutional and ambassadorial role by coordinating the activities of their members, as well as promoting, developing and preserving their industries. Specif- ically in the broad global context of geothermal energy, there are a variety of groups and associations representing the industry and its constituents, each with their own specific priorities, interests, goals, and initiatives. Some are more closely aligned to research and academia, others to the industry’s business interests through policy support and lobbying (i.e. trade associations). Others focus on co- operation for the sake of industry development and growth (i.e. clus- ter groups), or national marketing groups for business development (collaboration groups). Because these groups represent such varied interests within the industry, each approaches specific situations with a tailored perspective. They all, however, play an important role in promoting awareness of the industry, addressing public concerns about development of geothermal resources, and working to promote dialogue that helps create business opportunities.
Membership in the national associations, such as the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) and international associations, such as EGEC in Europe or the Geothermal Resources Council in the U.S. is crucial, but the associations also need you to support their events. Some offer sponsorships for specific events, projects or certain political initiatives, while CanGEA has recently gone the novel way of seeking crowd-funding to free up government funding opportunities.
In an email today, the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is promoting its 2014 events and is seeking sponsorship support providing a number of package deals. If you are interested you should be in touch with Kathy Kent of GEA via kathy@geo-energy.org.
GEA events for 2014:
- April 23-24, 2014: International Geothermal Energy Forum Washington, DC
- August 5-6, 2014. National Geothermal Summit Reno, NV
- September 28-October 1, 2014. GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Geothermal Energy Expo Portland, OR
