Energy costs have skyrocketed, the economy has plummeted, and global warming has taken on greater meaning since the last Industries of the Future-West Virginia symposium two years ago.

West Virginia University researchers, West Virginia industry leaders and state officials will discuss these three issues when the IOF -WV symposium reconvenes Nov. 19 at the Charleston Marriott Town Center.

A lot has happened over the past couple of years to impact industry in West Virginia,said Carl Irwin, director of the WVU -based consortium and director of market enhancement and program development at the National Research Center for Coal and Energy .

We plan to address areas of concern by unveiling the latest innovations in energy efficiency and showcasing manufacturers that are implementing programs to reduce their carbon footprint,Irwin added.

Industries of the Future is a U.S. Department of Energy program that focuses on how industries can modernize their production methods to reduce costs and become more energy efficient.

IOF -WV was the first state program when it formed in 1997. Partners include WVU , the DOE s Industrial Technologies Program, West Virginia Development Office, West Virginia Division of Energy and state industry groups.

Speakers for this years symposium include:

• Tim Duke, president, Steel of West Virginia, Huntington,Tips for Surviving as an Energy-Intensive Company in West Virginia,8:45 a.m.

• State Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee, 12:30 p.m.

• State Sen. John Unger II, D-Berkeley, chairman of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 3:45 p.m.

The symposium will also feature an update on climate change legislation moving through Congress and how it could impact state industry.

Other activities include panel discussions on energy efficiency innovations, industrial energy assessments and major energy efficiency projects and a question-and-answer session with WVU s Industrial Energy Efficiency Team.

Registration deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 12. The cost is $125.

For more information, contact Kathleen Cullen, IOF -WV program coordinator, at 304-293-2867 ext. 5426 or ” kathleen.cullen@mail.wvu.edu rel=nofollow> kathleen.cullen@mail.wvu.edu .

More on the Net: http://iofwv.nrcce.wvu.edu

The IOF -WV symposium is one of two back-to-back conferences with statewide economic impact taking place in mid-November at the Charleston Marriott Town Center.

The 15th annual West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference, sponsored by the WVU College of Business and Economics, will be Nov. 18 from 8 a.m.-12:15 p.m. The WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research will release its 2008 economic forecast for the state at that time.