Another International Solar Company Headquarters for the Valley

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Are they adding jobs to the area?

Yes, 250+ a build out in over a year just for the Headquarter facility however. There will be other jobs created to serve operation of such a facility.

[garisonthebull]

I'm happy for the simple reason that Solar is in development locally. I however am sad that only German and Chinese companies have planted seeds here. I would like to see American companies take and plant a solar green foot in this Valley of the Sun. This way not only would 250 jobs be at the plant but there would be more jobs at the headquarters plus money in the American Banks.

Yay for Solar! But Bummer for keeping Corporate America.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by garisonthebull

I'm happy for the simple reason that Solar is in development locally. I however am sad that only German and Chinese companies have planted seeds here. I would like to see American companies take and plant a solar green foot in this Valley of the Sun. This way not only would 250 jobs be at the plant but there would be more jobs at the headquarters plus money in the American Banks.

Yay for Solar! But Bummer for keeping Corporate America.

Unfortunately, many of the large solar corporations are not Americans. America hasn't been too kind to these types of enterprises. China and Germany are the World leaders in solar technology and research. ASU and a few other American universities are trying to change that but for the most part, the U.S. has let solar slip by so there aren't many American companies in the first place.

[Peg Fife-Bell]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Unfortunately, many of the large solar corporations are not Americans. America hasn't been too kind to these types of enterprises. China and Germany are the World leaders in solar technology and research. ASU and a few other American universities are trying to change that but for the most part, the U.S. has let solar slip by so there aren't many American companies in the first place.

Can anyone tell me why solar energy hasn't taken hold in the United States? I can speculate and suspect the oil companies might be behind it...might I be right?

Just curious....it seems to me Arizona would have stepped up years ago to be first where this kind of technology is concerned, we have so many days of sunshine....

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Peg Fife-Bell

Can anyone tell me why solar energy hasn't taken hold in the United States? I can speculate and suspect the oil companies might be behind it...might I be right?

Just curious....it seems to me Arizona would have stepped up years ago to be first where this kind of technology is concerned, we have so many days of sunshine....

Oil companies are a huge reason. For one, Europe was and still is a continent that taxes (heavily) the consumption of oil and gas. Therefore, public transportation and alternative energy creation have taken root on the European continent. Another matter is that Americans are far more afraid of change and of new technology compared to Asian and European counterparts. If you've ever been to an Asian or European country, you would be amazed of technology in use there compared to the U.S. It's amazing for the world, and sad for the U.S.

[nickw252]

Originally Posted by Peg Fife-Bell

Can anyone tell me why solar energy hasn't taken hold in the United States? I can speculate and suspect the oil companies might be behind it...might I be right?

Just curious....it seems to me Arizona would have stepped up years ago to be first where this kind of technology is concerned, we have so many days of sunshine....

Solar energy isn't as big here as it is in Europe and China is because green energy for some reason is a highly political issue in America whereas it is not in the rest of the world and many people (and industries) are fiercely opposed to green energy.

Also, because America doesn't have any comprehensive energy policy, it is difficult to get large investors to put money into expensive research and development of solar energy.

Here is some recent insight on that very issue from CNBC:

"We stand to fall farther and farther behind other countries like China and India unless there are fundamental shifts," says Susan MacCormac, chair of the venture capital and cleantech practices at international tech law firm Morrison & Foerster. "The U.S. should catch up, but odds are low that it will."

"The UK and other countries took global warming seriously, the US did not," says Mike Rosenfeld, vice counsel for UK Trade and Investment at the British Consulate. "There's energy security and supply issues to think about. For other countries, it's less of a partisan issue than in the U.S. Europe has higher energy costs and sees the end of its oil supply. That's making it think ahead."

from: U.S. May Wind Up Green With Envy - Invest In Green 2009 - Special Report - CNBC.com

[nickw252]

The NY Times has an article about the Chinese Solar Company opening a plant in AZ:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/bu...c=rss&src=cnbc

This article says that SunTech (Chinese) is opening a PLANT near Phoenix whereas the AZCentral site says that it is a HEADQUARTERS - do we know what is correct? Is it both?

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by nickw252

The NY Times has an article about the Chinese Solar Company opening a plant in AZ:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/bu...c=rss&src=cnbc

This article says that SunTech (Chinese) is opening a PLANT near Phoenix whereas the AZCentral site says that it is a HEADQUARTERS - do we know what is correct? Is it both?

It will be their North American Headquarters with the first manufacturing capability outside of China.

Some more information; Surprise looks to get in on the picture. Four other Solar Companies are negotiating with Arizona and Valley cities to establish themselves here:
http://www.azcentral.com/business/ar...h1117side.html

[azriverfan.]

I bet it opens in Chandler or the South Tempe area. There are tons of companies here already and a large Chinese and Asian population reside in Chandler.

[nickw252]

Another article about how Phoenix was chosen:

ASU played key role in bringing Suntech Power to Arizona

This shows the four biggest reasons why Phoenix was chosen - we need to pay attention to these to get more companies here:

• The tax incentive legislation, Senate Bill 1403.


• A policy of the Arizona Corporation Commission that requires that 15 percent of all Arizona power be generated from a renewable source.


• Arizona's proximity to the big market of California.


• Ties to Arizona State University, including friendships that began years ago in Australia.