Go find the folks at Ice Energy and ask to see the BEAR. They have one of the neatest technologies around. Imagine being able to shift the customer’s (end user’s) load profile. Ice Bears can cool large spaces on peak with a small amount of electricity and you consume higher amounts of energy off peak to make the ice. A couple of utilities are really into this cool technology. Talk to Sarah Nathan or one of her friends about it.

I ran into Dave Harris from Waukesha today. He has some interesting things to say about where the substation transformer technology is headed. I am sure he will share these facts with you. Stop by and say hi. Telling him you read about him on the blog!

An old friend of mine is on the floor talking to manufacturers and exhibitors. He is George Karady from Arizona. He has been teaching electrical engineering students for a long time. That is why he is here - keeping up with the technology advancements.

This place is crowded! Everywhere I go I see lots and lots of people visiting the booths. The flow of information is amazing. I have also seen young engineers all over the place. The ones I have talked to are blown away by the size of the exhibit hall. They wonder how they are going to see it all in just 3 days!

Who has the best give away booth toy???? I am looking. The winner will be featured in an up coming blog! If you see me, give me a toy.

Be sure to stop at Areva!. Neil Kerby has the most fantastic scanner. He held a graphic of a converter station up to it and the computer screen jumped to a 3D model of a converter. What a neat thing. I could not believe it. The detail was great. You could do a real fly around and go thru the model.

I got on the floor before the grand opening. I knew the exhibits would be ready for us, but it was still shocking to see how it had changed since yesterday afternoon. While we were all out playing at the reception, the exhibitors were busy working. Many worked through the night to get ready. I talked with several workers and they did not make the reception. Sorry guys, but thank you so much for keeping after it. The floor is beautiful. I am going crazy running around trying to see everything you brought.

The doors opened exactly on time. The band marched down the main aisle. They had to dodge the tables set up for our lunch. The Crescent City Currents have been working and working to pull this off. The attendees are flooding the hall. I can’t believe the numbers. I was on the floor before the opening and it was quiet. The only noise was the vacuum cleaners - now it is very noisy here.

The crowd has grown exponentially. Everyone is milling about. Waiting until the magic hour of 10am gets here. The band is here. The plan is in place. We are ready to get this show on the road. Tommy is giving orders and answering question. Now I have to get the video working. I am sure I’ll get it, but uploading is a challenge here.

The Crescent City Currents knows how to throw a party. These folks lined up the parade, got the permits, found bands, and got floats. If that wasn’t enough, they set the reception in motion. Then we had the fish to visit at the aquarium. There was also music to entertain. Then they closed down the Mississippi for the super fireworks to cap the evening!!!

If you missed this - shame on you. You missed one of the best opening ceremonies ever. The folks here in New Orleans know how to party!!!