GRAND RAPIDS - The link between West Michigan's manufacturing community and alternative energy will be explored in depth April 28-29 at an intensive conference on alternative energy.

Capitalizing on Manufacturing Opportunities: A New World of Energy Resources will give manufacturers a chance to learn how tap into the supply chain needs of future alternative energy producers from a stellar line-up of speakers like NextEnergy President and COO Steve Arwood; Dennis Wend, director of the National Automotive Center and executive director for technology transfer at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center; and Center for Automotive Research (CAR) President David Cole. Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Policy and International Affairs Barton Marcois also are scheduled to speak.

The event will be held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center. It is being hosted by The Right Place Inc. along with Consumers Energy, Cascade Engineering, Siemens Dematic, Bay Windpower, Grand Valley State University and Muskegon Area First. MiBizWest is serving as media sponsor of the event.

"Alternative energy, if properly positioned, should create new opportunities for West Michigan businesses," said Right Place Inc. Vice President Michelle Cleveland. "This event is designed to bring manufacturers together to understand the variety of ways in which industries are looking at generating power for not only vehicles, but for stationary sources and military equipment as well."

Many technologies associated with alternative energy like photovoltaic solar cells and wind turbines are not new, however, continued advances in these technologies and the introduction of new technologies like fuel cells make mass commercialization a more realistic possibility.

"The applications for many of these are still years away, but there is an increasing likelihood that many of these will be introduced in the next five to 10 years," said J. Gregory Northrup, director of economic development for Consumers Energy. "It's the right time to get out in front of manufacturers to help them take best advantage of this emerging market."

According to The Right Place, the April event is the first in a series of events focusing on alternative energy technologies and commercialization opportunities. The next one is scheduled for fall 2003.

Information on the alternative energy conference is available online at www.cascadeng.com or by calling Beth at 616-771-0304.