Arizona could lag behind other states in solar race [View All]

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/03/24/story13.html

Friday, March 21, 2008

Arizona could lag behind other states in solar race

The Business Journal of Phoenix - by Mike Sunnucks Phoenix Business Journal

One of the region's top economic officials is worried that sun-drenched Arizona could be left in the dark when it comes to the global solar energy boom.

Barry Broome, CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, said solar energy projects worth as much as $7 billion and 6,000 jobs are looking for U.S. locations, and Arizona faces an uphill challenge to land a piece of that pie.

Solar energy is on the rise in the U.S., Europe and Japan as alternatives are sought to polluting and inflationary fossil fuels.

Broome said Germany alone has 600 solar companies looking to the U.S. for production plants, research and development, and customers. He's concerned Arizona will not be competitive against California, Oregon, New Mexico and other states for those solar projects.

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