Georgetown will be the site of the second annual GridNEXT conference Nov. 9-11 at the Sheraton Texas Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center. The event is being put on by The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Alliance, a nonprofit working to promote and enhance the renewable energy industry in Texas. The conference will focus on new business models, as well as technology and electric grid modernization initiatives for renewable energy across the state of Texas and the United States. The city was chosen for several reasons according to a news release, but Georgetown's work toward becoming the first city in Texas to meet 100 percent of its power needs from renewable energy made it stand out. "We chose Georgetown for a number of reasons, including that it’s a beautiful place to gather for a conference," TREIA President Melissa Miller said. “But obviously their bold renewable energy goal was a primary driver in the decision.” Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross, who is the welcoming session speaker at the conference, said he is excited for visitors to experience all the city has to offer. "We look forward to sharing with the attendees those items that make Georgetown the special place we call home," Ross said. "Attendees can experience the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas, our incredible park system and rivers, and a variety of unique shops and restaurants." Speakers at the two-day conference include Brad Jones, President and CEO of New York Independent System Operator, and Bill Magness, President and CEO of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas. In addition, there will be pre-conference workshops starting Nov. 9 that are also open to non-conference attendees for $79. Miller said the idea behind the conference is to bring people together to promote and further renewable energy. “Our goal is to bring together [people in the industry to] provide an opportunity to learn about the latest trends impacting the electrical grid of the future," Miller said. “This couldn’t be more important and timely for Texas." Registration is available here.