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Two state agencies are staking out a presence at a national conference for green businesses for the first time this week.
The Department of Business and Economic Development and the Maryland Energy Administration have partnered to attend Retech 2009, the Renewable Energy Technology Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas. The trade show, which runs Wednesday through today, is expected to draw more than 2,000 representatives from businesses of all sizes.
Malcolm Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, said he has heard that Maryland businesses at the show have been busy promoting the state as a first-stop for green companies, including through international and national media interviews.
"Maryland is well-positioned to take advantage of this boom in clean energy," Woolf said Thursday. "We're putting Maryland in the top echelon of green energy states and are being successful in getting our name out there."
In Las Vegas this week, Maryland is also represented by the University of Maryland, College Park's A. James Clark School of Engineering and several green technology companies, including BP Solar of Frederick; Green Connected of Ellicott City; greeNEWit of Columbia; and Cambridge International of Cambridge.
Green Connected CEO and President Del D. Karfonta, a former banker who launched the company in 2006, is attending with representatives from nearby greeNEWit, which works with energy audits. Green Connected has evolved from a lender for green businesses to a company that produces articles and educational material on the industry, as well as connecting consultants to clients. It was named Green Business of the Year by the Howard County Technology Council last year.
"We do feel we want to promote Maryland as a state that is green-friendly," Karfonta said before leaving for Las Vegas. "Educating ourselves and going to this conference is the best way to make it happen."
About 125 companies and organizations, ranging from manufacturers and suppliers to finance and investment companies, have registered for exhibition booths. Developers, architects, government agencies and research and development companies are also signed on.
Woolf said the state is gearing up for roughly $57 million from the new federal stimulus law. His agency will hold a public information session on plans for the energy-related funds from 1 to 3 p.m. March 9 in the Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis.
"There's a lot of money out there that we have to compete for," Woolf said.