The Michigan Energy Fair is pleased to open its doors with a keynote address presented by Mayor George Heartwell of Grand Rapids, MI.

Mayor Heartwell will speak about the city's ambitious plans to meet its energy needs with sustainable energy.

Mayor Heartwell took office in 2004 and is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ. Prior to becoming Mayor, he served as Pastor at Heartside Ministry and was a city commissioner for 8 years.

Learn about ways to alleviate America's addiction to oil and gas with renown author Daniel D Chiras, PhD. America is running out of oil and natural gas, two fossil fuels that satisfy nearly two-thirds of our current energy demand. Will declining supplies and increasing demand result in our social and economic downfall? Absolutely not. With ingenuity, commitment, and perseverance, America can shift to clean, reliable, renewable energy.

Dan Chiras is an author, residential green building / passive solar design consultant, educator and lecturer. He has published over 250 articles in numerous magazines and two dozen books. His newest books include The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy and The Solar House.

Dan Chiras will be selling and signing copies of his books following his keynote and workshop sessions. Locations of the book signing will be announced at the Fair.

The City of Ann Arbor's Energy Office is a nationally recognized leader in municipal energy programs. Dave Konkle will discuss the program and why Ann Arbor has chosen to move quickly to locally produced renewable energy sources. Learn about Ann Arbor's innovative energy programs and their newest challenge, to move to 30% renewable energy for all City operations by 2010 and 20% renewable energy for the whole community by 2015.

David Konkle has been the Energy Coordinator for the City of Ann Arbor for 18 years. He has implemented energy programs that have saved the City over $5 million and brought in over $500,000 in grant funds. He is now leading Ann Arbor's effort to move to 30% renewable energy by 2010.

David Milarch, Co-Founder of the Champion Tree Project, will discuss the importance of sustainability in restoring and protecting watersheds in Sunday's keynote address.

David Milarch is a fourth generation Nurseryman with over 40 years of experience in growing and supplying landscape trees for resale for the national market. The Champion Tree Project is dedicated to leading society towards sustainability by preserving, propagating and planting a living legacy of old growth forest genetics. Milarch's works has led him to genetically reproduce over 90 different species of Champion Trees, which included the Bristlecone Pine seedling, Methuselah. Milarch was named as one of the 2005 Detroit News Michiganian of the Year Award winners.