The Solar Electric Power Association is a nonprofit organization, formed in 1992 as the Utility Photovoltaic Group. From national events to one-on-one assistance, SEPA is the go-to resource for unbiased and actionable solar intelligence. SEPA is comprised of 375 utility and solar industry members. 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.

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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.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Looks To Advance California's Renewable Energy Plans
Building on his commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the state's renewable energy capacity, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-14-08 (EO) to streamline California's renewable energy project approval process and increase the state's Renewable Energy Standard to 33 percent renewable power by 2020.

Renewable Fuel Standard Increased for 2009
The 2009 U.S. federal renewable fuel standard (RFS) will be increased to 10.21 percent ensuring that at least 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuels will be blended into transportation gasoline. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the annual overall renewable fuel volume targets, reaching a level of 36 billion gallons in 2022.

ProLogis Builds 1-MW Solar PV System in Japan
ProLogis, an owner, manager and developer of distribution facilities, announced that it will install its first solar photovoltaic (PV) system in Japan.

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