The natural advantage of year-round sun, growing international investment and built-in engineering and high-tech talent make Arizona a formidable player in the global competition for solar and renewable energy projects.
Strengthening Arizona's position is new legislation that will offer $350 million in refundable tax credits to stimulate new investment through renewable energy manufacturing and headquarters operations. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the Renewable Industries program into law Friday, a move that helps ensure Arizona gets its share of the industry's innovation, manufacturing and corporate operations.
The vision of Sen. Barbara Leff, and designed by Arizona's economic development community, the Renewable Industries program will change Arizona's economic landscape and garner widespread industry interest.
"Companies that have considered coming to Arizona now have a tremendous opportunity in front of them," said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
"Arizona has a truly unique value-proposition, quite possibly unmatched by any other market, and we'll work closely with companies that seek to take advantage of all that makes Arizona special."
The international community is taking notice. Spain's Abengoa, Albiasa and Iberdrola, are planning some of the world's largest utility-scale projects in Arizona. Kyocera Solar and Aide Solar, rooted in Japan and China respectively, have their U.S. headquarters in Greater Phoenix.
And German-owned Schletter and SOLON established manufacturing operations in Tucson, with TÜV Rheinland PTL in partnership with Arizona State University offering a world-renowned facility for photovoltaic technology testing.
"Arizona is now in a position to be a leader in the solar industry," said Michael Bidwill, GPEC's chairman and president of the Arizona Cardinals. "The Renewable Industries program increases our competitive position and gets us in the game to bring more projects to our state."
GPEC is leading a delegation to the 2009 Intersolar North America show in San Francisco that includes leadership from Fountain Hills, Peoria and Surprise. Meetings are planned with more than 25 chief-level executives from national and international solar firms.
"I am grateful for the vision and leadership Governor Brewer and Arizona legislators have demonstrated in supporting this bill," Arizona Department of Commerce Director Don Cardon said. "It will greatly assist Arizona in securing the national lead we should possess for solar and renewable technologies."
With over 300 days of sunshine a year and adjacent to California, the world's fourth-largest solar market, Arizona is a natural choice for solar energy consumption and distributed generation.
In fact, the Arizona Corporation Commission requires about a third of the state's renewable energy standard come from distributed generation – one of the most aggressive in the country.
"Arizona has done a lot to create a friendly business atmosphere promoting growth in the solar energy industry," said Drew Zogby, president and COO of Alpha Technologies, a technology and renewable energy company based Washington. "We're excited to now have an opportunity to expand our business base there."
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