Solar Power International 2010, U.S. Solar Energy's Premiere Event, Begins in Los Angeles, Calif.

Speakers now include Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, speaking at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12; Organizers confirm 1,100 exhibitors and expect record attendance of at least 27,000

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - October 12, 2010 - Solar Power International 2010, the largest business-to-business solar energy conference and expo in North America, begins today at the Los Angeles Convention Center and continues for three days from October 12 - 14. The conference is the premiere annual event for those looking to build relationships with the top solar energy providers and businesses. It attracts the most notable solar industry professionals, utility executives, investors and policy makers.


The conference has grown again this year, with more than 1,100 total exhibitors, up from 925 exhibitors last year. SPI 10 features 200 expert speakers, more than 35 breakout sessions and dozens of half- and full-day educational training workshops. The sprawling expo floor is more than 825,000 square feet this year and will be segmented by product category to make the show easy to navigate for businesses looking to build and expand relationships. Session tracks cover markets, policy, technology, and finance. A jobs center features active searches to fill solar company positions.

The popular "Open to the Public" night, held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, includes free access to the expo floor as well as sessions on solar water heating for homeowners, solar electricity 101 and more.

"Solar Power has grown once again this year and will provide attendees with a comprehensive view of the state of the solar industry in just three days, " said Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA. "Our broad range of speakers from diverse fields of expertise will help inform and kick-start conversations about today's state-of-the-art technology, finance and economic considerations and the industry's future direction. We're also continuing our tradition of opening up to the public with a free night so anyone can come learn solar power basics."

"Despite the slow economic recovery the solar industry continues to thrive and our event is evidence of the industry's momentum," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. "Solar Power International works each year to improve this conference for all participants making it a must-attend event. We have the highest caliber speakers this year and expect that the conference will again place solar power squarely in the national conversation about energy."

For more information, visit www.solarpowerinternational.com. Join Solar Power International on Facebook (http://ow.ly/nLsh) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/SolarPwrIntl), and use the Twitter hashtag (#solpwr10) to get real-time updates form the event.
General Session Schedule

Tuesday, Oct. 12, - 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

• Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, in conversation with Emmy Award winning journalist Deborah Norville. Stone will talk about his visionary business practices and creation of cultural shift.
• State of the Industry addresses by Julia Hamm, President & CEO, SEPA and Rhone Resch, President & CEO, SEIA
• Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 9:00 -10:30 a.m.

• Opening by Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar
• CEO Roundtable Panel featuring leaders from top solar and electric power players sharing their perspectives on expanding the U.S. solar market and exploring concerns vital to the solar industry. This year's CEO Panel is moderated by FORTUNE Magazine contributing editor and GreenBiz.com senior writer Mark Gunther. Speakers include:
o Matthew Baker, commissioner, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
o Tony Clifford, chief executive officer, Standard Solar
o Dan Shugar, chief executive officer, Solaria
o Terry Wang, chief financial officer, Trina Solar

Thursday, Oct. 14, 9:00-10:30 a.m.

• Keynote speakers James Carville and Mary Matalin headline the final general session on latest policy developments and their effect the solar industry, including the upcoming mid-term elections. Matalin is a contributor to CNN and served as assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney. Her husband, Carville, is a frequent talk show guest and a Democratic political campaign consultant credited with helping Bill Clinton win the presidency.

Other Announcements and Events
• SEIA and GTM Research kick off regular reporting of quarterly solar industry data with the release of a new 2010 mid-year report on Oct. 12. The 12-page executive summary will show robust growth of installed solar energy in the U.S. for 2010, highlighting all market segments and technologies, top states and forecasts. Detailed summaries and full reports will be available for purchase at www.seia.org.

• Organizers present the documentary, "A Road Not Taken," on Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. PDT in LACC Room #411. Chronicling the story of solar thermal panels, which U.S. President Jimmy Carter put on the White House in 1979, the film shows what happened when U.S. President Ronald Reagan took them down and where the panels ended up. To see the trailer, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9VD6MdEt0U&ap=%2526fmt%3D22.

• Through the support from SEIA and SEPA, the Solar Foundation releases the new U.S. Solar Jobs Census report, the first definitive study of the U.S. solar jobs market, on Oct. 13. Research will showcase the number and types of U.S. jobs in the solar industry and expected growth as reported by more than 2,400 companies operating in the U.S. For more information, visit www.thesolarfoundation.org.

Event Location: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. For more information on the facility and parking visit http://www.lacclink.com/.

Solar Power International is co-presented by the Solar Electric Power Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association.

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is comprised of over 700 utilities and solar industry members. From national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA is the go-to resource for unbiased and actionable solar intelligence. Breaking down information overload into business reality, SEPA takes the time and risk out of implementing solar business plans and helps turn new technologies into new opportunities. For more information, visit www.solarelectricpower.org.

Solar Energy Industries Association Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA is working to build a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org

Featured Product

Raptor Maps - The integrated operating system for end-to-end solar management

Raptor Maps - The integrated operating system for end-to-end solar management

Operate autonomous drones and other robotics technology on your solar farms with Raptor Maps' robotics operations platform. Our end-to-end solution allows you to build and schedule data collection missions, to analyze collected data through our analytics engine, and to address identified issues through our remediation intelligence suite. From construction monitoring to substation inspections to SCADA-alert generation missions, Raptor Robotics gives your team unparalleled insights into the health and status of your project. Improve the safety, efficiency, and scale of your operations with Raptor Robotics.