Title
Association News
range of policy issues—including solar tax
credits, global warming, Renewable Elec-
tricity Standards (RES), and transmission—
will be an invaluable resource as SEIA
continues its efforts to expand the U.S.
seia statement on u.s. senate’s 8th
market.”
upcoming phone seminar
failure to extend solar tax credits
The new officers will serve during a piv-
SEPA presents a series of monthly phone
Solar Energy Industries Association presi-
otal time for the U.S. solar energy market.
seminars on various solar topics. The
dent Rhone Resch released the following
This pollution-free renewable energy source
October 30 seminar focuses on reducing
statement after the Senate failed to pass
has experienced tremendous growth but
balance of system (BOS) costs. The call
a cloture motion on S. 3335, the Jobs,
remains challenged by market uncertainty
starts at 11am PST/2pm EST and is free to
Energy, Families and Disaster Relief Act,
as Congress expects to take up several ma-
members. Nonmembers can participate for
which included provisions to extend the
jor issues that could spur or dampen future
$25. Call details will be sent the Wednes-
solar investment tax credit for eight years.
prospects. www.seia.org
day before the call. Register at http://www.
The motion failed by a vote of 51 to 43, regonline.com/119722
unable to gain the support of 60 senators About the October 30, 2008 seminar:
needed for passage. Reducing PV Balance of System Costs—
“For the eighth time since June 2007, Low-Hanging Fruit
the Senate was unable to reach a bipartisan presented by Manfred Bächler, Phoenix Solar
compromise to extend solar tax credits PV panels are the focus of intense research
which are vital to the solar industry and to lower costs and improve efficiency. But
our economy. Time is running out to of equal importance are balance of system
extend the solar tax credits and without
ernesto macias new epia president (BOS) improvements, i.e. labor, mounting,
passage in the immediate future, tens of
from 2008 until 2010
mounting equipment, wiring, inverter,
thousands of jobs and billions of dol-
The European Photovoltaic Industry Asso-
etc. This is particularly true of thin film
lars will be lost in new solar investment.
ciation (EPIA) celebrated its Annual Gen-
installations where the panels make up a
Already companies are putting projects on
eral Meeting (AGM) on 26 June in Aix les
smaller portion of the overall costs and
hold and preparing to send thousands of
Bains, one day prior to its annual national
the lower efficiency potentially requires
jobs overseas—real jobs that would other-
political event. On the occasion of the
more BOS components. In some cases,
wise be filled by American workers. Failure
AGM, Ernesto Macias became president
thin film BOS costs can add an additional
to extend the solar tax credits is a severe
of the photovoltaic association, succeed-
$1/watt to the overall cost, a significant
blow to an industry that has proven to be
ing Dr. Winfried Hoffmann. Macias will
amount for a $4-6/watt installed system.
an economic engine for the U.S. at a time
remain president until the 2010 AGM.
BOS improvements are important and no
when we need it most.
The AGM is the yearly gathering of
market has more experience with large thin
“The Senate now has little time left this
the assembly of members to provide new
film installations than Germany. Phoenix
year to extend these tax credits. I strongly
strategic directions and orientations to the
Solar is a German integration company
urge the Senate to figure out a bipartisan
association. This year the AGM gathered
who works with both crystalline and thin
compromise and immediately extend the
over 170 representatives of the photovoltaic
film technologies on large ground-mounted
solar tax credit when they return from their
industry from around the globe. Achieve-
installations. This seminar will feature their
August recess.” www.seia.org
ments from 2007 were presented and new
current experiences and future forecasts for
strategic orientations aimed for the next
reducing BOS costs significantly with com-
seia elects new officers for two years were laid out. Specific recommen- mon sense approaches and innovations.
2008-2010 dations were made to position the associa- Audio recordings of all the 2007 and
The Solar Energy Industries Association tion as a high-profile reference organization 2008 (to date) seminars are available. Mem-
(SEIA) elected the following officers to in the PV sector by: bers can access the MP3s and presentations
serve on SEIA’s board for the next two • Consolidating conditions for strong through the member’s only section of the
years: Chairman Roger Efird, president of market development in the EU website. Non-members can purchase an
Suntech America; Vice Chairman Mark • Expanding market intelligence to select- MP3 and presentation for $25.
Conroy, operating officer of iEnergies; and ed emerging overseas markets www.solarelectricpower.org
Treasurer/Secretary Stephen Hogan, execu- • Further building an in-depth industry
tive vice-president and general manager of intelligence
Spire Solar, a division of Spire Corp. The following day, a national photovoltaic
“Our new officers bring over 70 years symposium entitled “Towards the develop-
of experience in the solar and renewable ment of the photovoltaic sector in France”
energy industry to the organization,” said brought together over 500 participants.
Rhone Resch, president of SEIA. “Their www.epia.org
knowledge and leadership over a wide
28 – Global Solar Technology – September/October 2008 www.globalsolartechnology.com
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