The 80’s and 90’s experienced a huge growth in wealth through the technology boom. We are moving into the energy boom. The question is Will America Lead the Way? Or will the rest of the world gain on the growth in wealth through the energy boom?

I hope we win. These are high paying technology jobs. There is no reason why AZ can’t become the Solar leader of the world, we have enough sun.

Good job to GPEC for bringing this company to the valley. Keep it up, let’s get 10 more by the end of this year. Then let’s get some research project going with ASU that teams education, research and development together to bring more funding to the University.

Solar-panel maker picks Goodyear site

by Ryan Randazzo – Jan. 28, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Goodyear will house a new factory for Chinese solar-panel maker Suntech Power Holdings Co., which development officials said Wednesday paves the way for more factories and raises hope for a more diversified Arizona job market.

At least 54 renewable-energy companies are looking at the region for possible factory sites, said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, which helped lure Suntech to the state.

He said he is hopeful Arizona sees at least three more factory announcements before April and at least six for the year, which would help the state recover from the current recession and housing crisis.

“We need to be aggressive about this, you have to execute,” Broome said, citing state tax incentives created last year that helped attract Suntech and other companies to Arizona.

He said the state and development officials need to work to ensure Arizona remains competitive with the incentives offered and with its business climate as other states strive to attract factories.

Renewable-energy-component factories could offer Arizona an alternative to the construction industry that historically drives the job market, Broome said.

Among the attractions that brought Suntech to Arizona were tax breaks passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor last year. Those incentives offer renewable-energy equipment factories income-tax credits and lower property taxes based on how much they invest in their factories and what they pay their workers.

read the rest of the story:  http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2010/01/28/20100128biz-suntech0128.html