MREA Energy Fair

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press release: The 29th Annual Energy Fair will be held June 15-17 at Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) headquarters in Custer. The Energy Fair brings people together each June to share clean energy and sustainable living knowledge with one another in an unwavering effort to build a sustainable future run on clean energy.

Education is at the heart of the Fair, with over 250 workshops covering 14 categories, presented by topic experts. New this year, we are highlighting new workshop tracks within the categories to intrigue and inspire you. The Energy Fair prides itself on putting together a lineup that speaks to industry trends and addresses emerging environmental issues, while still maintaining the fundamental concepts of sustainable living and clean energy education.

New workshop tracks this year include: Water Resources; Beneficial Animals and Insects; Building Unity through Leadership; Food and Self-Reliance; Land Ethics; Solar Knowledge for Homeowners; Solar Knowledge for Business Owners; Solar + Storage for Solar Professionals

Workshop tracks aren't the only thing that's new at the Fair in 2018. Electric vehicles will be able to charge up under MREA's Solar Carport. The project was launched at the Fair last year and will come to fruition this May with the help of MREA students.

Other notable additions to the lineup are, and not limited to: 200+ exhibitors; Family friendly entertainment; Tiny Home Alley and Solar Home Tour; Documentary screening of Solar Roots—The Pioneers of PV with Filmmaker Jeff Spies; Clean Transportation Show.

And Keynote speeches from: 

Investigative Journalist, Author, and Co-Founder of The Intercept, Jeremy Scahill.

Sustainability, Research & Grant Manager, Organic Valley, Jonathan Reinbold.

Journalist and Author Lily Raff McCaulou.

Author, Humorist, Singer/Songwriter, Intermittent Pig Farmer, Michael Perry.

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has named five musical acts to perform at this year’s Energy Fair in Custer, WI. Among the names are the People Brothers Band, GGOOLLDD, Patchouli & Terra Guitarra, Stanton West and Galynne & Markondrums. Performances will be held during all three days on both the forest and main stage, spanning a number of genres.

The People Brothers Band have spent the past nine years performing their brand of rhythm and soul music, in that time releasing one album and working on their second. Hailing from Madison, WI, the band consists of eight members and have won numerous awards, including the Madison Area Music Association’s Pop/R&B Artist of the Year in 2017. The group believes in spreading a positive and uplifting message of love and community through their music. They will be taking to the Human-Powered Main Stage at 9:00 P.M. on the first night of the Fair, Friday June 15th.

The second night of the Energy Fair will be headlined by a self-proclaimed “dynamic, dirty, sythn pop carnival of a band” known more commonly as GGOOLLDD. The spontaneously assembled five piece from Milwaukee is equally exciting and playful live, with three Eps and one full album under their belt. In their three years together, the band aims for a romanticism and whimsy in their writing and performance, with a broad range of influences and inspirations driving their sound. They will take to the Human-Powered Main Stage on Saturday the 16th at 9:00 P.M.

Playing the Forest Stage at 2:00 P.M. Friday will be Patchouli and Terra Guitarra. The musical veterans have 21 album releases and numerous tours to their name, amassing over 4,000 shows in their career. The duo feature empowering and inspired vocals and harmonies in a Spanish guitar, folk rock fusion. The group has been internationally recognized and admired for their onstage chemistry and uplifting live performance.

Saturday will feature Stanton West on the forest stage, beginning at 2 P.M. In his 20 years of making music, Stanton has developed a groove-driven folk sound focused in positivity, family, community and nature. He is an award winning multi-instrumentalist who advocates for helping others conquer fear, follow dreams and bring out the best in themselves and others.

Rounding out The Energy fair will be Galynne & Markondrums, taking the main stage on Sunday at 3:00 P.M. The duo seek a feel-good but also mindful atmosphere surrounding their shows. Their music follows a soulful, conscious and acoustic groove in its delivery of inspiration and strength through music.

Discounted tickets are on sale now at TheEnergyFair.org. Free admission for MREA Members, volunteers, and children 12 and under. A limited amount of Energy Fair campsites are available. Free coach busses available on Saturday, June 16 from Madison, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire/Menomonie/Osseo. Visit TheEnergyFair.org or call 715-592-6595 for more details.   

Register for the Madison Bus 

Bus fare is FREE thanks to Sierra Club—John Muir Chapter. Limited seating available, reserve your spot today! You must still pay your own entrance into the Fair. Save on tickets, purchase by midnight tonight! And don't forget that volunteers and MREA Members get in free.

We have the following timing and stops planned:

• 7:00 a.m.: Depart from Willy St Coop West, 6825 University Ave in Middleton. (Please arrive early and park on the street.)
• 7:15 a.m.: Depart from Hilldale parking lot entrance opposite the Great Dane (Park on the top floor of the ramp.)
• 7:30 a.m.: Depart from Kohl Center, 601 W Dayton St.
• 7:45 a.m.: Depart behind Hawthorne Library, 2707 Hermina St.
• 8:30 a.m.: Optional pick up in Portage, WI if there are riders
• 9:45 a.m.: Arrive at The Energy Fair
• 7:15 p.m.: Depart The Energy Fair to return to Madison. Will be back at Willy St West by 10:00 p.m.