Solar Power Intl 2008 Observations
SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL 2008 -- The Solar Power International conference sold out. Again. And once again the line-up of speakers was first class. They included California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and General Wesley Clark. Celebrities aside, this conference -- the industry's largest -- gave us an annual glimpse into the business of solar. Denis Du Bois talks about the show with CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund Manager Matt Lecar. (podcast)
October 15, 2008
Podcast
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Music by Chris Keister
"What's green for the environment also can be green for the economy."
---- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at Solar Power Int'l 2008.
Program Notes
Solar Power International 2008 is a business-to-business conference about solar, co-produced by SEPA and SEIA (it started as Solar Power in 2004). This year's estimated attendance is close to 17,000 from 92 countries, with over 425 exhibitors and 65 conference sessions. As in recent years the program included top industry speakers and celebrities.
Big-name speakers here in San Diego included one-time presidential candidate General Wesley Clark and Senator Maria Cantwell. No-shows included Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers and NASDAQ CEO Bob Greifeld, who sent substitutes. There was one speaker only the organizers knew about in advance -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to an auditorium packed with thrilled attendees. The large audiences put many programs behind schedule, and visibly shook some of the presenters.
"A number of heads have turned, both in the Valley and in the solar industry generally, around some of the rounds that have been raised on the thin-film side." -- Matt Lecar, Fund Manager, CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund.
The celebrities and crowds are one aspect of Solar Power International. The other aspect is the business of solar, into which we get this annual glimpse.
For a unique perspective on this, I asked someone who's been around the energy industry for many years, and who has several million dollars to invest in clean energy companies. I caught up with CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund Manager Matt Lecar at the airport for this interview.