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Orientation Visits

Orientation visits, often referred to as reverse trade missions, provide foreign energy decision makers with a first-hand look at a wide variety of technologies at work in California and give them a better understanding of the state's approach to diversifying energy supplies.

During these visits, California Energy Commission's Energy Technology Export Program staff takes international visitors to power generation sites around the state and involves them in business forums, workshops, and round table meetings where they can convey their technology needs to representatives of California energy technology companies.

The Export Program staff identifies specific international clients, seeks co-sponsors, plans project site visits, arranges travel and lodging, travels with the foreign delegations, organizes workshops and presents informational briefings. Reverse trade missions are often co-sponsored by federal agencies and international financing institutions such as the World Bank or Asian Development Bank.

In addition to reverse trade missions, the Export Program staff arranges for international visitors to be briefed by other Energy Commission staff on topics such as alternative fuels, renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency and conservation technologies, transportation issues, and California's restructuring of the electric utility industry.

Since 1988, the Energy Commission has hosted over 1,900 international visitors. For more information, you may contact Brenda Sturdivant at 654-4708 or via email at Brenda Sturdivant.