There will be workshops on global warming, alternative fuels and curbing energy use - in addition to discussions about North Dakota's national role in producing fossil fuels - during the Oct. 29-30 Great Plains Energy Exposition at the Bismarck Civic Center, where speakers will include Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D.; Samuel Bodman, U.S. secretary of energy; and Dan Arvizu, director of the U.S. Department of Energy's main lab for renewable energy research.

Two other main speakers will be Steve Hinchman, senior vice president for Marathon Oil Corp., and James E. Rogers, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy.

The expo also will have on display examples of cutting-edge technology, such as a Ford Escape hybrid that can be charged overnight using an electrical outlet. Also on display will be the world's fastest street car, a 1,200-horsepower Dodge Viper powered by ethanol, that holds the world speed record - from zero to 220.7 mph in 27.41 seconds. That broke the previous record of 217.85 mph set by a gasoline-powered car.

Dorgan, who is co-hosting the Energy Expo with Bismarck State College and engineering firm Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, said he wanted to create this first expo, which he hopes to make an annual event, because the state is on the cusp of "substantial new (energy) development"and he wanted to bring people together to think through all of the possible opportunities.

He said it's a networking opportunity that will bring together "energy innovators" from across the region to discuss how the state will play a leading role in securing energy independence for the United States."

"Energy is a huge and growing part of the (state's economy),"said Dorgan, who cited Thursday the state's current ranking in the nation, sixth in energy production for coal, oil and natural gas. But he said other types of energy are coming on, such as biofuels and wind energy.

He said the goal should be to produce "a lot of energy in many different areas."

Dorgan, who will open the expo with a 9 a.m. Oct. 29 keynote address, is chairman of the energy and water appropriations subcommittee within the Appropriations Committee. Also, he is chairman of the energy subcommittee within the Energy & Natural Resources Committee.

The other keynote speakers:

n 9:30 a.m. Oct. 29, Samuel W. Bodman, U.S. secretary of energy since February 2005.

n 12:30 p.m. Oct. 29., Steve Hinchman, senior vice president of Worldwide Production, Marathon Oil Corp. Hinchman is a board member of the American Petroleum Institute and the Independent Producers Association of America.

n 9 a.m. Oct. 30, James E. Rogers, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy.

Other speakers include Jim Dooley, staff scientist, Joint Global Change Research Institute; Jerry Hinkle, vice president of policy and government affairs for the National Hydrogen Association; Joseph Kelliher, chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.; and David Rogers, principal deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy's office of energy efficiency and renewable energy;

The cost to attend the conference is $60, which includes admittance to the exhibitor trade show, keynote sessions, workshop sessions, breakfast, lunch, breaks and Monday night social. For a complete schedule and registration information, visit http://www.bismarckstate.edu/gpee, or call 224-5600..

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at virginia.grantier@;bismarcktribune.com.)