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The Solar Electric Power Association is comprised of over 500 electric utilities, solar companies, and other industry stakeholders. From research projects and national events, to one-on-one counseling and peer matching services, SEPA is the go-to resource for unbiased and actionable solar intelligence. SEPA`s unique joint partnership offers members critical access to key business relationships and unbiased, actionable intelligence needed to make solar practical and profitable in today`s shifting energy landscape.

2009 Solar Metering & Performance Monitoring Now Co-located with DistribuTECH Conference

Join us in San Diego, February 3-5 2009 for SEPA`s third annual Solar Metering & Performance Monitoring expo-now held in conjunction with DistribuTECH which features a dedicated solar conference track for 2009. The Performance & Monitoring expo is designed to bring together utilities, technology vendors, and solar installers to explore opportunities to collaborate on issues related to meters, inverters, and performance monitoring equipment and services.

Sessions in the solar track will cover topics such as integrating the smart grid and solar, right-sizing the inverter to the application, optimizing for system function and performance, and understanding photovoltaic performance measures. Full details.

SEPA`s Top Ten Rankings featured in Wall Street Journal

The ten utilities with the most solar electricity integrated into their grid at of the end of 2007, as ranked by SEPA in our first annual Top Ten Utility Solar Integration Rankings, were featured in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, November 17, 2008.

View the Wall Street Journal Article (electronic version): http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122661023183225655.html

Special Report Released: Electric Utilities & Solar, A Market Review

SEPA released a special report, which is as a supplement to the "Top Ten Utility Integrated Solar Rankings" report, entitled Electric Utilities and Solar, A Market Review. This short six page report provides an overview of utility activity in 2007, ranking the top solar integrated utilities, as well as an outlook of utility activity in 2008 and beyond.

For a copy of the report click here.

Solar Power International 2008 a Huge Success!

Almost 18,000 professional attendees registered to participate in this year`s conference and expo and another 5,700 members of the general public walked the show floor during our 3-hour "Public Night", bringing our grand total to more than 23,000 participants!

Arnold Schwarzenegger Delivers Surprise Speech

Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered a surprise speech at the Solar Power International conference on opening night, saying that the conference was, "without any doubt, the biggest and the best of the conferences in the United States." He called for a sustained commitment to clean technologies saying they can aid the country`s economic recovery. After touring the exhibit floor, Schwarzenegger spoke to solar industry professionals. "No matter where you look, there`s solar involved. It`s everywhere. It`s the future; it`s now. It can`t be stopped." Watch video of Arnold`s speech.

SEPA Issues Challenge for Massive Solar Deployment Despite Global Economic Woes

Utility and Solar Industries Called Upon to Work in Collaboration
to Increase Solar Capacity by Thirty Fold by 2016

In conjunction with the October 13 kick-off of Solar Power International 2008, the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) issued a challenge to the U.S. electric utility and solar industries to work in collaboration to meet aggressive solar electric capacity growth forecasts despite a struggling global and domestic economy. Prior to the recent economic downturn, analysts were predicting that the country could see an increase in solar capacity of more than thirty fold between 2009 and 2016, which is approximately three times the estimated amount of generation that will come on line as a result of existing state solar specific renewable portfolio standards and policies. If realized, this level of increased solar deployment would represent more than 60 billion kilowatt-hours of solar generation, over $230 billion in total investment, and 440,000 permanent jobs and associated economic development benefits. Press Release.

Watch Julia Hamm deliver the challenge in her opening speech at Solar Power International 2008.

SEPA Announces Winners: 2008 Solar Business Achievement Awards

Utility and Solar Players Recognized for Outshining Their Peers

Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is proud to announce the results of the 2008 Solar Business Achievement Awards. Winners were selected in five categories based upon their efforts to expand solar energy as an essential part of the solution to the growing global energy crisis. Nominees for the awards included utility CEOs, electric utilities, and solar companies from SEPA?s 400 plus member companies across the U.S. and the world. Category winners will be recognized at a ceremony during the SEPA Annual Membership Meeting, today in San Diego, CA, in conjunction with Solar Power International 2008. Press Release

Congress Passes 8-Year Extension of Solar Investment Tax Credit

By a vote of 263-171, the U.S. House of Representatives passed historic legislation that extends the 30-percent federal investment tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations for 8 years.

This legislation will:

Extend for 8 years the 30-percent tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations;
Eliminate the $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations, creating a true 30-percent credit;
Eliminate the prohibition on utilities from benefiting from the credit;
Allow Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) filers, both businesses and families, to take the credit; and
Authorize $800 million for clean energy bonds for renewable energy generating facilities, including solar.

Read SEPA`s statement about how this will impact utiliies` engagement with solar energy.

SEPA Statement on Historic PG&E Solar Announcement

Utility Announces Two Photovoltaic (PV) Plants Equivalent to
Almost Double the Amount of Current U.S. Grid-Connected PV Capacity

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) applauds Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a California investor-owned utility, for today’s groundbreaking 800 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic announcement. With 473MW of grid-connected photovoltaics installed throughout the entirety of the U.S. as of the end of 2007, this announcement from a single electric utility to develop almost double that amount is a strong signal of the growing role of solar electricity in the nation’s future energy mix.

PG&E’s plans include a 550MW PV plant with Optisolar and a 250MW project with SunPower, both to be constructed in phases between 2010 and 2013. “PG&E’s announcement represents the largest single photovoltaic commitment from an electric utility anywhere in the world,” stated Julia Hamm, SEPA executive director. “It represents the pinnacle in a series of large and innovative U.S. electric utility solar projects that have been announced in the last six months.” Full Statement.

Industry News

Solar Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Renewable Energy News Headlines provided by RenewableEnergyWorld.com - the leading online publisher of renewable energy news and information world-wide.

Carbone Lorraine Acquires Calcarb's Rigid Graphite Felt
Carbone Lorraine announced the acquisition of Calcarb, the second largest manufacturer of rigid graphite felt for the solar industry. This venture compliments Carbone Lorraine's position as the leader in graphite solutions for solar, industrial, semiconductor and high temperature furnace components, the company said.

China Sunergy Announces 22-MW Deal with Solarwatt AG
China Sunergy Co. Ltd. announced that it has entered into an agreement with Solarwatt AG, to provide 22 megawatts (MW) of solar cells over the course of 2009.

Solar Stadium in Taiwan Close to Completion
Construction on the main stadium for the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan will be complete by the end of this year. The new sports arena is also Taiwan's largest photovoltaic installation to date - fitted with solar modules manufactured by the Taiwanese company Lucky Power Technology Co. Ltd. using equipment provided by 3S Swiss Solar Systems AG.

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