DALLAS - Clasma Events Inc. has announced the GridWise Expo, a first-of-its-kind event dedicated to the modernization of the nation's electric grid system, to be held May 16-18, 2006 at the Palm Springs (Calif.) Convention Center.

The GridWise Expo will consist of four elements: education on technologies, initiatives, and impact; live demonstrations of hardware, software, and communication concepts available to realize modernization of the grid; business development prospects for product and service suppliers; and industry outreach initiatives for trade associations and groups.

"The GridWise Architectural Council is extremely pleased to provide the stakeholders of the U.S. electric system the chance to meet, network, and generate ideas and relationships that will further the vision of modernization," said Rik Drummond, GWAC chairman.

Rob Pratt, manager of PNNL GridWise Program activities, added, "The GridWise Expo will be the first opportunity to touch and feel the full breadth of technologies and policies integrating supply with demand from distribution automation, distributed generation to demand response and new market structures, that are the basis of a new value proposition for operating the power grid"

The first GridWise Expo will be co-located with BuilConn and the M2M Expo and Conference, two events with similar principles and objectives. BuilConn is focused on building-IT convergence, while M2M is focused on machine-to-machine communications.

Steve Hauser, GridWise Alliance chairman, said, "The GridWise Expo will enable the alliance and its member companies to gain nationwide awareness and support for our collective vision of a transformed electric system."

For more information, visit www.gridwiseexpo.com.

Publication date: 03/06/2006