Keynotes Include U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, New Mexico Governor Bill
Richardson,
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Ed Begley Jr.;
Organizers Expect Record Attendance of 20,000+ People from 90 Countries;
Sprawling Solar Energy Expo with 925 Companies Opens Doors to General Public on
October 28, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
ANAHEIM, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
On October 27, Solar Power International is replacing the fifth graf of this
press release, which should read, "The U.S. solar industry has emerged as one of
the fastest growing markets in the world. Driven by strong policy support at the
state and federal level, solar is rapidly becoming a critical part of our
economy and our energy industry," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA.
"Solar Power International is the showcase of the new economy and how policies
that focus on cutting edge technologies can result in economic growth, job
creation and new business opportunity. The world hasn't seen an industry with as
much potential as the solar industry since the early days of the Internet. Every
entrepreneur in America is looking to Anaheim this week."
The corrected release reads:
SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL 2009, LARGEST EVER U.S. SOLAR ENERGY EVENT, BEGINS IN
ANAHEIM, CALIF.
Keynotes Include U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, New Mexico Governor Bill
Richardson,
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Ed Begley Jr.;
Organizers Expect Record Attendance of 20,000+ People from 90 Countries;
Sprawling Solar Energy Expo with 925 Companies Opens Doors to General Public on
October 28, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Solar Power International 2009, the largest business-to-business solar energy
conference and expo in North America, begins today at the Anaheim Convention
Center and continues for three days October 27 - 29. Presented by the Solar
Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association
(SEIA), Solar Power International is the premier gateway to the U.S. solar
market and a closely watched indicator of the industry`s growth. Besides
expecting record attendance, the show more than doubled in size with 925
companies represented in the Expo Hall. Last year`s event had 425 exhibitors.
Key themes at this year`s event include the potential of the U.S. as the biggest
solar energy market in the world, the impact of solar jobs on the domestic
economy, the central role of policy and participation of utilities in the solar
industry`s expansion, falling costs for solar equipment, and innovative new
technologies and business models driving market adoption of solar in the U.S.
market. The conference encompasses all solar technologies including solar
photovoltaics (PV), solar thermal (also called solar water heating), space
heating and cooling, and utility-scale concentrating solar power, and
concentrating PV plants.
The highly anticipated keynote speakers - U.S. Labor Secretary Solis, New Mexico
Governor Richardson, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Ed Begley Jr. - will provide a
broad perspective on transforming the U.S. energy landscape to a new clean
energy economy, and on leveraging clean, renewable solar power to address the
stark environmental concerns facing our planet. The General Sessions also
include two CEO Panels at which captains of the utility and solar industries
discuss critical and timely aspects of the solar marketplace.
"Once again Solar Power International welcomes the entire world to California to
explore the vast potential of solar energy," said Julia Hamm, conference chair
and executive director of SEPA. "But the U.S. solar industry is not just in the
Golden State. It is now thriving from the Southwest to the Northeast, with
utility-scale plants appearing across the country and solar arrays proliferating
on homes and businesses in every state. Solar Power International is the place
to experience this dynamic industry in action. We are the only event that unites
the entire solar industry under one roof. We provide unparalleled learning and
networking opportunities for attendees to grow business. And we are proud to
invest the event proceeds directly toward the continued growth of the industry."
"The U.S. solar industry has emerged as one of the fastest growing markets in
the world. Driven by strong policy support at the state and federal level, solar
is rapidly becoming a critical part of our economy and our energy industry,"
said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. "Solar Power International is the
showcase of the new economy and how policies that focus on cutting edge
technologies can result in economic growth, job creation and new business
opportunity. The world hasn't seen an industry with as much potential as the
solar industry since the early days of the Internet. Every entrepreneur in
America is looking to Anaheim this week."
Solar Power International features more than 200 expert speakers in 65 break-out
sessions, covering the latest developments in solar markets, policy, technology,
finance and implementation. For those looking to build a career in the solar
industry, the conference offers training workshops at beginner, intermediate and
advanced levels on Monday and Friday. The 200,000-square-foot exhibit floor
showcases 925 companies from every part of the solar value-chain. The exhibit
floor is segmented by product type, making the show easy to navigate for
individuals and businesses looking to find and develop relationships.
Although the focus of Solar Power International is business-to-business
interaction, the conference once again presents the ever-popular "Public Night,"
when show organizers open the expo floor and present free workshops to the
public on Wednesday evening, Oct. 28, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Solar Power
International`s Public Night has become a tradition and will be a major draw for
members of the public eager to learn about the latest solar technology for their
homes and businesses.
For more information, visit www.solarpowerinternational.com. Join Solar Power
International on Facebook (http://ow.ly/nLsh) and Twitter
(http://twitter.com/SolarPwrIntl), and use the Twitter hashtag (#solpwr09) to
get real-time updates form the event. Plenary session Web casts will be posted
to the conference Web site in the coming days.
General Session Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
* Welcome by SEPA Chairman David Rubin, PG&E, and SEIA Chairman Roger Efird,
Suntech America
* Keynote Speakers (in chron. order): Julia Hamm, Rhone Resch, Ed Begley Jr.,
U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 8:00 - 10:30 a.m.
* Keynote Speaker: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
* CEO Panel #1: Developing the Utility-Scale Market for Solar
* Moderator: Michael Schmela, Editor in Chief, Photon International
* Panelists: Don Brandt, Arizona Public Service; Reyad Fezzani, BP Solar; John
Woolard, BrightSource; Robert E. Hunzinger, Gainesville Regional Utility; Carlos
Domenech, SunEdison
Thursday, Oct. 29, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
* Keynote Speaker: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
* CEO Panel #2: Surviving the Solar Shakeout
* Moderator: Anne Thompson, NBC
* Panelists: Jeffery Wolfe, groSolar; Freeman Ford, FAFCO; Ron Kenedi, Sharp
Solar; Tom Werner, SunPower Corp.; Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech
Solar Power International presents "Public Night"
* Free, public access to the largest solar energy expo in North America
* Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. @ Anaheim Convention Center
* See and learn about the latest solar energy technology for your home or
business. Visit and talk to experts representing over 900 solar energy
companies, and attend one of our free workshops:
* 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Solar PV for Homeowners with Gary Barsley, Southern
California Edison and Michael Hidary, Global Solar Center, Room 207ABCD
* 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. California Solar Initiative (CSI) Forum, Room 303ABCD
* 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Solar Hot Water Heating for Homeowners with Mark Thornbloom,
Viessmann Manufacturing Company and Tom Bohner, Integrated Solar LLC, Room Grand
Ballroom DE
* 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Find Your Dream Job in Solar with Andy Black, On-Grid Solar
and Liz Merry, Verve Solar, Room 204ABC
* 7:30 - 8:30 PM Solar Advocates in Action with Scott Hennessey and Katherine
Gensler, Solar Energy Industries Association, Room 207ABCD
Event Location
Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave. For information on paid parking:
http://bit.ly/pqN8r.
Solar Power International is co-presented by the Solar Electric Power
Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The Solar Electric Power Association SEPA is comprised of over 700 utilities and
solar industry members. From national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA is
the go-to resource for unbiased and actionable solar intelligence. Breaking down
information overload into business reality, SEPA takes the time and risk out of
implementing solar business plans and helps turn new technologies into new
opportunities. www.solarelectricpower.org
Solar Energy Industries Association Established in 1974, the Solar Energy
Industries Association is the national trade association of the solar energy
industry. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 members to
make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets,
removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on
the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org
A&R Edelman
James Cortese, 650-762-2813
jcortese@ar-edelman.com
or
SEPA
Josephine Mooney, 757-589-5421
jmooney@solarelectricpower.org
or
SEIA
Monique Hanis, 202-236-2880
mhanis@seia.org
Copyright Business Wire 2009
