Solar Power International is North America’s largest, most comprehensive solar power conference and exposition. The first of its kind in North America, Solar Power International is the premier business-to-business event designed to serve and advance the solar power industry. Interact with more than 23,000 professionals representing 128 countries. Visit with more than 1,100 exhibiting companies in the solar value chain showcasing residential, commercial and industrial solutions as well as business services. Companies with a reputation to establish or maintain in the solar industry know SPI is the must attend event of the year.

The Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association (AriSEIA) urges Salt River Project to raise the level of their Earthwise Solar Programs to a level consistent with other Arizona utilities. SRP is currently undergoing a stakeholder process to revise its voluntary Sustainable Portfolio Principles and Arizona’s solar trade association notes that it falls short of what other utilities are doing under the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST).  The REST is the plan adopted by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) for regulated utilities in Arizona.

AriSEIA maintains that the solar energy industry can become the new economic driver for Arizona.  "We are seeing the beginning of this with the announcements of manufacturers of solar energy systems and components moving to Arizona." Noted Michael Neary, the associations Executive Director.  "In order to continue to attract manufacturing, Arizona must maintain the demand for solar locally.  A local market created by the demand for solar by Arizona homeowners and business helps drive manufacturing coming into our state."  Mr. Neary noted that the local market installing systems is the big job creator.

AriSEIA Members….
Thanks to those who turned out to last Tuesday’s AriSEIA membership meeting.  It looks like we have to ask for the bigger room next time around. 

If you missed the meeting, we were given an overview of the 2011 APS REST Program as approved by the Corporation Commission.  It was a good opportunity hear from APS, have our questions answered and to provide feedback on how this years Implementation Plan is working for the industry.  As you know, plans are underway for the 2012 IP as we speak and we need to insure that we provide input from the solar industry’s perspective as next years plan is developed.

Spanish Solar Firm to Put US Base in Arizona
[Associated Press, Aug. 11] Surprise, AZ - A Spanish manufacturer of glass for commercial solar plants announced Wednesday that it will build a $50 million U.S. headquarters in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise. Rioglass Solar said the 130,000-square-foot facility will employ more than 100 workers.

An additional 130,000 square feet of manufacturing space is on the drawing board. The company makes curved glass sheets used in solar plant parabolic concentrators. It is a subsidiary of Rioglass Solar Holdings. The city is waiving more than $1 million in fees and infrastructure improvement costs. Rioglass Solar also received $10.6 million in federal tax credits to locate its mirror manufacturing facility in Surprise.

Solar Power Plants Find Homes in Arizona
[Environmental Leader, Aug. 11] Arizona is about to become home to two new solar power plants. The University of Arizona will host a 1.6-megawatt (MW) system, while the Luke Air Force Base (AFB) will house a 15-MW plant, touted as the largest solar installation on U.S. government property.

SOLON inked a deal with Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP) that will bring the 1.6-MW turnkey power plant to the University of Arizona’s UATech-Park’s SolarZone, a 200-acre solar integration center. The University of Arizona also has a $32-million concentrated solar plant project underway at the SolarZone to be built by Bell Independent Power. The new 1.6-MW solar plant will consist of SOLON’s Velocity MW Solar System and 5,808 locally-manufactured, high-efficiency solar modules. The plant is expected to provide a more cost effective way for TEP to integrate solar power into its renewable energy portfolio.