PV America East Attendees Discuss Industry Solutions

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The PV America 2013 East conference, held February 5-7, provided the solar photovoltaic industry with the opportunity to see the products and services that will help drive business forward in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

The show also offered an extensive conference program, highlighted by the inaugural interactive PV Power Sessions that focused on business growth. PV America East took place in Philadelphia and was presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA).

Glenn Thayer moderated a wide-ranging discussion about the challenges facing the PV industry with Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA, and Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA, covering topics including industry consolidation, policy and marketing.

Hamm encouraged the industry to work closely with utilities to find ways to collectively look for win-win policy solutions for utilities, manufacturers and consumers and to understand the perspectives of the utilities. ‘Look past the challenges and see if you can bring policy solutions together and this will move the needle faster,’ she said.

‘In the coming years, we think solar will be the largest source of new electricity in the U.S., and by 2015 or 2016, we will have 10 gigawatts installed,’ Resch remarked. ‘There is long-term sustainable growth and you should position your company to take advantage.’ Resch also urged the audience to be knowledgeable about policy and stressed that it is an important part of their business models.

In the two other Power Sessions, Brian F. Keane, president of SmartPower and author of ‘Green Is Good: Save Money, Make Money, and Help Your Community Profit from Clean Energy,’ shared his viewpoints on business growth and development, while Scott Klososky, CEO of Future Point of View, discussed how to leverage disruptive innovation for business success.

Companies exhibited at PV America to showcase new products, generate new business leads and meet with customers and colleagues. The feedback for the three-day event was extremely positive, according to conference organizers.

The third Photovoltaic Projects of Distinction Awards were presented to Generating Clean Horizons Solar Project, Keystone Solar and the Union County (NJ) Solar Initiative. For the first time, nine additional projects were awarded honorable mentions in recognition of their impressive accomplishments.

Elite PV America 2013 East sponsors included ReneSola, Canadian Solar and Suntech.

PV America East 2014 will be held June 23-25 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston.

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