Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference
Thanks to everyone for making this year's SSREC an absolute blast! We learned a lot, we shared a lot, and we were radically inspired to build the just energy future. First off, we want to send a huge thanks to our sponsors. Now let's keep the good energy going! Tag photos and video with "southernenergy" for YouTube and Flickr, and send media links to the new SEN blog. Our resources page lists all the awesome campaigns and organizations from the conference. Check out our upcoming events to stay involved, and look through the conference program PDF to find information about everyone who contributed to this year's SSREC.
Finally, major credits to Abell Multimedia for making us look hot.
History of the SSREC
A long long time ago on a campus in North Carolina ....
In the Spring of 2003, The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and Duke University were the first Southeast universities to successfully implement student driven initiatives focused on renewable energy support at the campus level. Typical of great leaders, the North Carolina students then decided to create a forum to share what they had learned with neighboring schools in the Southeast. The concept of the Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference (SSREC) was born.
Student organizers from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University began planning for the conference in the Fall of 2003, adding Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to the planning committee in December of 2003. On April 2nd, 2004, over 200 students from around the Southeast descended upon Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina for a weekend full of learning, networking and laughs.
The atmosphere of the first conference was charged with excitement and anticipation realizing the possibilities of transforming Southeast universities into sustainable living communities. Since the April conference, many activists have continued to work on energy issues; some have even led successful initiatives on their campuses since April including MTSU, TN Tech, Sewanee, Appalachian State University!
In August 2004, the Southern Energy Network was formed to serve as both a catalyst and guiding agent as institutions of high learning from the shores of Florida, to the hills of Appalachia, to the banks of the Mississippi River drive their communities towards a clean energy future.
Since the First SSREC it has continued to grow, evolve, and most importantly empower. It was been hosted by the University of Tennessee, Clemson Univeristy, and Valdosta State University. The Conference has continued to be an intergral part of developing the Southern Energy Network. In its 5th year it underwent some big changes partnering with The Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative. These changes made it the best SSREC yet! The 2008 SSREC in Valdosta had over 500 attendees and 37 campuses and communities represented.
