PR - All roads lead to Southern California this week, as thousands of people
from around the world attend Solar Power International, the largest
solar energy industry event in the Americas. Presented by Solar Electric
Power Association (SEPA) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA),
Solar Power International ‘08 begins just days
after the U.S. Congress passed the most significant federal policy ever
enacted to support the solar energy industry –
an eight-year extension of the federal investment tax credit for solar
energy, and the elimination of both the residential cap for residential
systems and the utility exemption.
This sweeping legislation marks a
turning point for the solar energy market in the U.S., which has already
grown steadily at 40 percent per year throughout the decade and stands
poised for a new era of expansion. Now in its fifth year, Solar Power
International takes place October 13 – 16,
2008, at the San Diego Convention Center. This year the conference and
expo coincides with Solar Energy Week in San Diego, organized by the
California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE), drawing curious
citizens from across the region to learn about solar power. With a total
attendance expected to approach 20,000 people, Solar Power International ‘08
is the largest solar energy event in U.S. history.
“Against a backdrop of extraordinary economic
change, this year’s event is especially
compelling because it sets the stage for extensive dialogue on a range
of issues – navigating a worldwide financial
system under stress, enhancing market growth, driving down costs and
fueling technological innovation,” said Julia
Hamm, executive director of SEPA and chair of Solar Power International. “The
companies and organizations participating in Solar Power International ‘08
are offered the ideal forum for learning and networking to discover new
partnerships and revenue opportunities that will lead to the expedited
expansion of an industry that can be such an important part of the nation’s
economic recovery.”
Keynote speakers addressing various global and national issues range
from NASDAQ Executive Vice President John L. Jacobs and Shea Homes
Active Lifestyle Communities President Rick Andreen, to politicians who
have been pioneers in the energy industry –
former U.S. Army General Wesley Clark and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.
“With a stabilized tax policy for solar
energy for the next eight years, the U.S. is poised to be a leading
market in a global industry,” said Rhone
Resch, president of SEIA. “This will have a
tangible impact on the U.S. economy, generating hundreds of thousands of
new domestic jobs and unleashing billions in private investment when we
need it most. And, as the next Administration takes up climate change
legislation, solar power is uniquely positioned among next-generation
energy sources to provide secure, affordable, renewable power for a
clean energy future.”
“At Sharp Solar, we envision a world powered
by clean solar energy at our homes, businesses, and other venues,”
said Ron Kenedi, vice president, Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group
(SESG), a subsidiary of Sharp Electronics Corp. “We
believe this vision is within reach and achievable through our work with
partners and customers. As a global company, we recognize that Solar
Power International is an important event to engage with the global
solar community.”
A highlight of the Solar Power International agenda is the annual CEO
Panel, which brings together industry leaders from the United States and
Europe to discuss worldwide market development and reductions in
technology costs. The conference will also feature opening and closing
keynote sessions and more than 60 breakout sessions. The
174,000-square-foot expo floor features 425 exhibitors from every corner
of the solar energy industry. Together the conference program and expo
floor encompass the complete range of solar energy technologies,
including photovoltaics, concentrating photovoltaics, concentrating
solar power, solar hot water and space heating and cooling. This year
the organizers expect close to 20,000 attendees, including solar
industry professionals, utility executives, investors, engineers and
policymakers – with an international
contingent representing at least 70 countries.
Although the focus of Solar Power International is business-to-business
interaction, the event this year will reach out to consumers through a
partnership with the nonprofit California Center for Sustainable Energy
(CCSE). Solar Power International ‘08
coincides with San Diego’s annual Solar
Energy Week, creating a comprehensive, week-long schedule addressing
both professional and consumer solar interests. Activities for the
public will include a “Public Night”
opening of the Solar Power International expo floor on the evening of
October 15, and the Tour of Solar Homes on October 18. San Diego Gas &
Electric, the Utility Host Sponsor for Solar Power International, will
be promoting Solar Energy Week activities to both its commercial and
residential customers.
Conference leaders from the Solar Electric Power Association and the
Solar Energy Industries Association would like to thank all sponsors of
Solar Power International ‘08, including
Terawatt sponsor Sharp Solar, Gigawatt sponsors Kyocera Solar and Yingli
Solar, and Utility Host Sponsor San Diego Gas & Electric.
To find out more about the conference and expo and to catch frequent
updates from the event, including video cast footage of the plenary
sessions and interviews with industry experts, please visit www.solarpowerinternational.com.
The Solar Electric Power Association bridges electric utilities
and the solar industry to push solar forward more tangibly, one real
business at a time. From national conferences to one-on-one counseling
and peer matching services, SEPA’s unique
joint partnership offers members critical access to the key business
relationships and unbiased, actionable intelligence needed to make solar
practical and profitable in today’s shifting
energy landscape.
www.solarelectricpower.org
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