Grand Junction Energy Expo Demonstration, Education and the Future

Despite the chilly weather, Two Rivers Convention Center was abuzz with the 8th Annual Energy Forum and Expo on Friday. The day featured 63 vendors, as well as several expert speakers, showcasing the future of energy development on the Western Slope. "We provide monitoring for any type of environmental conditions. We do a lot of oil and gas monitoring," explained Zachary Liesenfeld with InterTech Environmental Engineering. "There's any number of things that they're requiring and that's what you're seeing here today," added Brian Ahlberg with Airgas. "The different business that represent the industry are amazing out here today," said Becky Soper with Brady Trucking. Vendors ranged from oil and gas giants like Encana, to accessory providers like Rocky Mountain Hats and Boots. Solar and wind companies were also there, explaining and demonstrating their renewable energies that have a small footprint. The expo didn't just provide a platform to showcase the latest energy developments. It was also a place to educate consumers. "If they have any questions, they can come by and talk to us. We can explain to them what we're doing and if there's any problems, we can address those then," said Travis Dove with Encana. The John McConnell Math & Science Center even offers an energy science and policy class, whose students made demonstrations available to attendees. "You get to learn about the environment and where our energy comes from. [You can weigh] the pros and cons of everything," said Amy Espinoza, a sophomore at Fruita Monument High School. "There's a lot here and a lot to learn," added Liesenfeld. More than 1,000 people attended the Energy Forum and Expo. To see the complete list of vendors and speakers, visit www.EnergyExpoCO.com .