More Than 12,000 Attend First Annual Energy Day Festival
HOUSTON – Over 12,000 Houstonians joined Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) and the City of Houston in celebrating the city’s first annual Energy Day Festival at Hermann Square on Saturday, October 15th. Attendees included students, educators, and local officials who saw over 60 interactive exhibits highlighting a wide range of energy sources and technologies that help to shape Americans’ everyday lives and the Houston economy. Guests were also treated to live music, as well numerous interactive games and displays.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker attended the event and noted that it helped to certify Houston’s status as the nation’s “Energy Capital.”
“For decades Houston has been a leader in the development of our nation’s energy resources,” said Parker. “Energy Day provided Houstonians, particularly our youth, an opportunity to recognize this historic leadership as well as celebrate the city’s successes in leading the nation in the advancement of renewable energy technology.”
Consumer Energy Alliance organized and supported this important inaugural event. At the conclusion of Saturday’s festivities, CEA President David Holt issued the following statement:
“Energy Day celebrated the importance of all forms of energy in our daily lives and helped educate students about the exciting opportunities that science, engineering and technology can provide for their future. We must give credit to all our participants whose stimulating exhibits and generous scholarship opportunities have sparked the imagination of our students and motivated an entire generation of future generation of energy experts. CEA is extremely pleased with our inaugural Energy Day and looks forward to expanding Energy Day in 2012 and in the years beyond.”
Holt also added: “A vast majority of the exhibits demonstrated how advances in technology have led to new sources of renewable energy, user-friendly ways to conserve energy, and alternative ways to power cars and trucks. Participants including Ignite Solar, Shell, eVgo, NASA-Johnson Space Center, and TXU Energy, among dozens of others, attracted thousands of young students eager to learn the science behind these remarkable advances.”
Over the past year, CEA has partnered with other Houston-area educational institutions in advance of Energy Day to encourage broad participation in ongoing science and energy academic competitions. Earlier this year, HISD, CSTEM, Houston Museum of Natural Science, SEFH, Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce—Energize! Houston, CASE, The University of Houston, HCDE, KIPP, and Lone Star College partnered to form the Energy Capital Academic Program (ECAP) which encourages students to participate in multiple academic challenges and compete for cash prizes. On Saturday, CEA awarded these participants with more than $20,000 in scholarships to help advance their education.
To view photos from Energy Day 2011 or to receive more information about how to participate in next year’s Energy Day, please visit www.energyday2011.org.
