Sunshine days at Solar Power 2008 in San Diego
I'm in San Diego catching lots of sun at Solar Power 2008.This whole scene reminds me of high tech industry boom days circa 20+ years ago (well before the Internet explosion) when technologies and companies were genuinely substantive and going someplace real.
Consider these numbers. Solar Power made its debut only five years ago with about 40 companies exhibiting. Visitor attendance was around 100 people. Same deal in 2005.
In 2006, exhibitors doubled to about 100; that same year visitors spiked to 8,000.
In 2007, exhibitors doubled again, to 200; visitors jumped to approximately 13,000.
This year, the doubling effect has happened again. There are at least 450 vendors showing their wares and more than 25,000 people are checking out what is now the world's largest solar event. The registration lines are deep and they've already sold out full conference offerings.
Arnold Schwarzenegger kicked things off in a surprise visit Monday night. Say what you want about The Governator, but he's demonstrated unmatched commitment and leadership on environmental issues. Cah-lee-forr-nea is so far ahead of every other state; it's remarkable and inspiring. Gov. Schwarzenegger was in a spirited mood and rallied the audience with an upbeat series of quotables including:
"We want to have everything clean."
"What's green for the environment can also be green for the economy."
"We must not give in to those who say the environment should take a backseat during difficult financial times. It is wrong.”
"Something's going on when Congress finally gets its act together; we've been pushing them and pushing them, and finally a tax credit."
"We're seeing more action than even some action movies; not mine, they had great action."
"I can envision going in the helicopter and seeing no more warehouses without solar power on top of them."
"Be bold and keep shooting for the stars. I'll be back."
He knows how to get a crowd pumped up.
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