Business Mission
To Phoenix / USA at the invitation of GPEC
Following the passing of the law "Investment Tax Credits" (ITC) 3 October 2008 the basis has been created for a potential boom in the photovoltaic sector in the US. After California now the sun-drenched Arizona wants to start off in the world of solar power. A delegation from B5 Solar by Havelland-Wind GmbH was also present on the cutting edge Council at the invitation of the organizers.
Phoenix, valley of the sun
(MP)
The American City Phoenix is located in an extremely sunny area of the US State Arizona. Since the 1980s the city has grown continuously and has now become the fifth largest city in the US. Important, successful international companies are either based there or have a production facility there. Amongst 
them is the Company First Solar which produces in Frankfurt /Oder and which is an expert in thin film modules.
Since the end of the 1990s the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) has been coordinating the economic development of the Phoenix area. In this capacity the GPEC organized for the first time between 7 and 11 November 2008 a meeting for those interested in solar power: this was an event with international participation.
Solar-Council in Phoenix
AThe Company B5 Solar by Havelland-Wind GmbH was invited to the meeting from distant Phoenix. The (approx.) 80 members of the Solar Power Council were mainly representatives and decision-makers from Commerce and the Government in Arizona along with the Bank of America and the most important American solar power producers.
There were only 4 Council members from Europe. The B5 Solar by Havelland-Wind GmbH delegation was the only German representative. Which was why the Europeans were made all the more welcome and received with great interest on the part of the American Council members.
The region around Phoenix is, with 312 days of sun, one of the sunniest regions of the US. That is why there are ideal pre-conditions for the intensive use of solar energy. Politicians in the Federal State of Arizona want to focus intensely on this in the near future and create attractive parameters for investors. The greater Phoenix area is given a particular focus in this regard.
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| Mrs. M. Deiter, Senior Client Manager - Bank of America- asks Fred Kehler about his experience with the EEG and the financing of photovoltaic units in Europe. |  |
Fred Kehler was much sought after as a contact at the Solar Council. Here he is at a discussion in the morning of 10 November 2008. |  |
Thus the delegation around Fred Kehler at the Council, which lasted several days, always found interested listeners. “The interest in German solar power know-how at the meeting was very high”, commented Fred Kehler happily. “The Americans make no bones about the fact that they can still learn a few things from us as far as solar energy is concerned. They really want to know and they are tackling the issue with American enthusiasm and a pioneering spirit.”
SolarSolar- Council of superlatives
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| After an extremely informative business dinner, 28°C by night at the Hotel pool in Phoenix-Scottsdale |
For the delegation around Fred Kehler it was especially noticeable that the organizers knew how to keep the exchange of information, communication and relaxation at a high level at all times.
In this spirit the visit to the private home of the President of the "Arizona Cardinals" (National Football League Team) fitted into the programme well.
Here Fred Kehler also met Michael Ahearn, CEO of First Solar in Phoenix. Following an intensive dialogue he said he hoped that both companies would have a rosy, successful future and presented Michael Ahearn with a solar-powered wrist watch with the initials of Havelland-Wind GmbH at the end of the meeting.
The Council members also found time for extensive talks at the Business-Golf event and also on other occasions in a relaxed atmosphere.
Arizona, a new Player in the solar energy market?
"An extremely successful event with clearly formed visions of the ambitious plans for Arizona", is how Fred Kehler described it, "you can be very relaxed just like the "doers" in Arizona are planning to approach the solar energy issue in their state."
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| Business Golf to relax and communicate during the Solar Council meeting. |  |
Fred Kehler on one of the most beautiful golf courses in the US in Phoenix, Arizona |  |
His view is that in distant Europe we will soon hear a lot more about accessing solar power from the sun’s energy in Arizona. After the long period of stagnation in terms of photovoltaics in the US they will make up for lost time and start the battle for the peaceful "solar world dominance".
"Our company will be watching closely the changes expected in the US, especially in Arizona", said Fred Kehler, "Thanks to the very good contacts we now have we will be able to react immediately in a focussed manner.”
Date: 21.11.08
