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Posted on 03/28/2010 9:29:30 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
To many Silicon Valley solar companies, the chance to bid on San Jose's largest municipal solar installation might seem a welcome opportunity, especially during a slow economy.
San Jose, after all, is the place Mayor Chuck Reed has pitched as the "world center of cleantech innovation." Since he became mayor in 2007, at least eight solar companies have moved or expanded here.
Yet the bid to furnish enough solar panels to fill 3.4 acres atop Norman Mineta San Jose International Airport's new rental car garage .. went to a Canadian company for $2.2 million. Second in line was a Southern California solar panel distributor, followed by an Arizona subsidiary of a German solar company.
They were the only firms to raise their hands for the 1-megawatt project.
"We were surprised there weren't more bids," said Todd Mazza, division manager at San Jose-based Rosendin Electric, the airport's principal electrical subcontractor that sought proposals for the project. "I'm actually still surprised by it."
So what happened? In a valley that's taking a leading role in renewable energy, why didn't any Bay Area firms bid?
"I think it illustrates the difficulties that California companies have in competing in the global marketplace," said Reed. "There are things like the sales tax on manufacturing equipment that make it more expensive to manufacture solar products in California."
That's one reason Reed praises a new law that will exempt sales taxes on green-tech manufacturing equipment in the state; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill Wednesday at a San Jose solar firm.
Canadian Solar, the winning bidder on the airport project, manufactures its panels in China. (A San Carlos distributor that sells the company's panels locally will share in the contract.)
Still, other factors may have affected responses to the bid.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Maybe they can pass some new regulations and laws to deal with it. ;-)
I just read this at breakfast and got a real belly-laugh out of it! I was going to post it when I got back home, too, but you beat me to it. Same reaction of you — Dems, Greens and Marxists have totally screwed up the state and now they complain about it — but without pointing the finger at themselves, of course. There’s another article in the Merc today about how bad manufacturing is in CA and, again, no hint of what really screwed that up — the ultra-leftist, anti-business, pro-global warming, high cost welfare state. The funny thing is that they hint in both articles that special tax breaks for a few select industries would fix the mess and make them competitive. If that is true for a select few, then why not low taxes across the board for ALL industries. The economic illiteracy on the left is just astounding.
Do you know the way to San Jose, eh?
Love it, too! Grew up there and, after “escaping”, had to go back often to see parents in Los Gatos - always couldn’t wait to get the hell out!
Went to a liquor store a while back and after paying that awful sales tax - 8.5% ? - looked at the construction worker behind me in line and asked him, “WHY???? The weather’s not THAT good here!” He just shook his head and said, “Yeah, I know! I’m outta here as soon as I can go...”.
Too bad really-—Ca. is such a beautiful state mucked up by ugly leftists, liberals and marxists in government and elsewhere. Let’s not give up hope that a conservative rising tide can help that state too— although its an uphill battle there for sure!
Amen - and they are fools if they all vote for Tom Campbell and think he’ll do it...he’s a dope!
I am considering moving back to the United States, maybe Nevada.
Love the Bay Area but it’s just getting to crazy to stay here.
If you want things warm with water, west of the Mississippi, I’d think of So TX (no state income tax, I think...), maybe AZ and places south in NV (it gets HOT there and water there and in Az is going to get ugly!). East of the Mississippi, FL has no state income tax, SC (if they get rid of Grahmnesty) and my great state of VA (only because they go conservative when not collectively drinking the koolaid) - but VA has nasty taxes...good luck...
(I’m sure this will prompt others to plug their states...have at it!)
Lived in OK for 10 years, hope I never do again.
Lived in Dela-Where? 4 years, hope I never do again.
Nevada seems a good choice for their taxes, the mountains for hiking and skiing.
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