Solar Power International 2010 the nations’ largest solar exhibition has broken attendance records and the US government seems to be paying attention as we all should. The show highlighted Germanys’ success as a dominate player in the solar business which has been reported here and elsewhere. It has installed half of all the solar projects globally in 2010. These large scale projects are significant both in economic benefit to people who are employed, but there are also the environmental benefits of reducing greenhouse gases. US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar spoke at the Solar Power International 2010 Conference and Exhibition in Los Angeles, California. Following his remarks, Secretary Salazar signed a Record of Decision, approving the construction of Nevada’s first large-scale solar project on public lands.
“Good morning! Welcome to Solar Power International. And welcome to a key chapter in America’s New Energy Frontier as we move forward to stand up the largest solar projects in the world, right here in the United States! I want to thank Rhone Resch for his kind introduction. I also want to thank the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) for hosting this event. It’s an honor to be here.
Being at the largest solar conference and expo in North America gives you a real sense of possibility and promise. Just look around the exhibit floor at the pace at which your technologies are advancing. Or listen to the jobs report following my remarks to feel the momentum of this industry. Or better yet: look at the large-scale solar projects we at the Department of the Interior have approved for construction in the past two weeks alone. They are the firsts of their kind on public lands and some will be among the largest solar projects in the world. In Imperial County, California, we’ve