Founded in 1985 to foster the development and maturation of competitive power markets, NECA's purpose has expanded over time and now serves as an open forum among all stakeholders with a full range of energy and environmental interests, including traditional and renewable electric generation, natural gas and other fuels, and energy efficiency. NECA supports environmentally sound, reliable and cost-effective wholesale and retail markets for the production and delivery of electric power supply, as well as competing energy services and resources alternatives, including conservation, innovative demand-side and power delivery technologies, renewable energy and distributed generation. NECA’s 1,600+ members, representing over 150 entities, include developers and owner/operators of competitive power projects, regulated and merchant transmission and distribution companies, gas pipeline companies, power marketers and traders, fuel and equipment supplies, end users and various service providers to the energy industry, including law firms, investment bankers, environmental engineering and economic consulting firms. Through its regular series of meetings and conferences throughout the year, NECA serves as a clearinghouse of cutting-edge industry information. These events include dinner meetings devoted to a single topic and four day-long meetings each addressing an energy issue: fuels, power markets, renewable energy and the environment. In 2014 NECA launched two highly successful new events – Awards Night and an Energy 101 seminar series. In addition to presenting and sharing substantive material, we find time for networking which is essential to business development, especially at our Holiday Networking Event. Finally, NECA’s premier event is its two day conference and exposition held each spring highlighting all of the major industry developments in the region.