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Workshop will address natural gas price, supply

EAST PEORIA - A workshop on natural gas price and supply volatility is scheduled for Nov. 3 at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria.

The workshop, sponsored by the Energy Resources Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is designed to help small and mid- sized businesses cope with high and volatile natural gas and other utility prices.

The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and Ameren Corp., parent company of AmerenCILCO, are also cooperating with the workshop.

"This past year, natural gas prices and the volatility of all utility supplies have increased," said Dr. William Worek, director of the Energy Resources Center. "This raises concerns among small and medium-sized businesses and institutions in Illinois."

Worek said many of those companies lack the staff or expertise to address solutions to rising energy costs.

"This can be a major impediment to businesses in improving their profits, and for institutions to keep their budgets in balance," he said.

That's why the Energy Center and the State of Illinois developed regional education seminars to give businesses the tools to manage utility purchases and reduce energy costs, Worek said.

The workshop features presentations on a "Historical Perspective of Natural Gas Pricing and Production," along with a panel discussion on the "Future of Gas Pricing and Supplies." Also, outlining supply and demand side opportunities will be presented.

The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. A $40 registration fee covers the cost of the full workshop materials and lunch. To register, participants should register online at the Energy Resources Center at www.erc.uic.edu/ngworkshop.