WASHINGTON, D.C. — A three-day summit on renewable energy sources drew nearly 7,000 participants to Washington last week.

The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) attracted delegates from 119 countries, which all aimed to find ways to reduce their dependence on oil, promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gases. More than 100 countries and organizations made pledges at the event to meet enhanced energy goals.

One of the highlights of the show was an exhibit by Volvo Group, which dominated one entire wall of the trade show. Volvo was showcasing seven trucks designed to work with seven different alternative fuels. The May issues of Truck News and Truck West will carry a full report on Volvos CO2-neutral trucks. Volvo Group’s message was that the trucks are available today, but the company needs increased availability and standardization of alternative fuels to make C02-neutral transport a reality.

Another highlight was a speech by US President George W. Bush. He laid out a strategy for reducing oil use in the US and discussed current initiatives to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use. He also toured Volvo’s display and acknowledged the truck maker in his speech.

“One of the messages that really permeated the last day of WIREC was that renewables are a key element of our broader strategy to address the challenges of energy security and climate change,” said Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, US Department of State. “We see renewable energy as an integral part of our overall climate change policy, and an important element. President Bush spoke very passionately about the great strides that we’ve made this decade and also the great potential for tremendous technological advances in the years ahead.”

WIREC has really taken off in recent years, each year surpassing attendance expectations. The fourth version of this conference will be held in India in 2010.