San Jose, CA – February 17, 2011 – In conjunction with corporate, investor, national and state policymakers, The Solar Foundation and SolarTech have partnered to identify a wide spectrum of tools and best practices that improve local markets for solar industry stakeholders and consumers. On March 29 and 30, solar industry leaders will gather for the 2011 Solar Leadership Summit at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara, CA, and go beyond old models to conceive new solutions for workforce readiness that cut costs, lower risk, and accelerate deployment.
“We are very excited to work closely with The Solar Foundation as a strategic partner for the 3rd Annual Solar Leadership Summit,” said Doug Payne, SolarTech’s co-founder and Executive Director. “The Solar Foundation will play an important role at the Summit with its proven policy research and analysis, including the groundbreaking 2010 National Solar Jobs Census.”
“Even as the price of solar technology continues to rapidly drop, the cost of deployment remains a barrier in local markets,” said Andrea Luecke, The Solar Foundation’s Acting Executive Director. “One way to reduce costs is to reduce the time it takes to install solar. This is a unique opportunity for us to play a leading role in the creation of game-changing best practices. It also allows us to gather real-time information from employers as we continue to build demand-side job creation models that integrate company specific skills, trends and career pathways. It is an honor to be a part of such a forward-thinking Summit.”
Industry stakeholders are invited to join SolarTech and The Solar Foundation on March 29 and 30 in Silicon Valley as industry thought leaders develop market-based solutions to accelerate solar’s growing portion of the U.S. energy mix. The Summit will help to develop actionable tools in response to issues ranging from financing, permitting, performance, workforce readiness, installation, interconnection, and energy efficiency.
Additional information and registration details are available at http://www.solartech.org/index.php?option=com_yos_events&view=eventdetail&id=139&Itemid=53
About The Solar Foundation
The Solar Foundation (TSF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-lobbying organization founded in 1977 that strives to increase the widespread adoption of solar energy through educational outreach, policy research, and market transformation. In October 2010, TSF released its highly influential National Solar Jobs Census, which was the first attempt at directly quantifying solar jobs across the entire value chain. TSF is also a partner on the DOE’s Solar America Communities grant and recently launched the SOLARdarity Movement, which is an opportunity for proponents of solar energy worldwide to come together as a single voice. www.TheSolarFoundation.org
About SolarTech
SolarTech, an initiative of Silicon Valley Leadership Group, is a collaborative organization formed to create a Solar Center of Excellence in Silicon Valley. SolarTech reduces solar soft costs, lowers risks, and accelerates local solar markets through scalable standards and best practices in the areas of permitting, interconnection, performance, finance, installation and workforce readiness. www.SolarTech.org
Media Contact
Andrea Luecke, The Solar Foundation, 202-469-3732, andrea.luecke@solarfound.org
Doug Payne, SolarTech, 408-768-0449, dpayne@solartech.org
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