Renewable Energy Today

by Scott Wong – Mar. 10, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix and the state won’t be able to secure thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in investments without new legislation providing tax breaks for renewable energy firms, says local business leader Barry Broome.

Broome, president and chief executive of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and Mayor Phil Gordon said they were “very optimistic” after flying to the San Francisco Bay Area last week to meet with corporate executives looking to expand or relocate their operations in more tax-friendly states.

Broome said any possible agreements in Arizona hinge on whether Senate Bill 1403 is signed into law this session. The bill, introduced by Republican Sen. Barbara Leff of Paradise Valley, would give renewable energy firms hundreds of thousands of dollars in income-tax incentives based on capital investments and the number of jobs created.

“We’re not getting any of these companies without it,” Broome said after a news conference Wednesday with Gordon.

Senate President Bob Burns, R-Peoria, has said no bills will move forward in his chamber until the state’s fiscal 2010 budget is passed. But Broome said he didn’t think the delay would hinder negotiations with the California firms, which are being lured by a number of states including Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Oregon.

Last week, Gordon and Broome led a small Valley business delegation to meet with three Bay Area companies.

One solar panel company is looking to build $1 billion in facilities that would employ 1,000 high-tech workers. Another makes thin-film solar products and is planning to build a $215 million facility that would employ 700 people.

The third company manufactures eyeglasses, jewelry and other accessories. It is considering relocating its corporate headquarters to Arizona, which could bring 100 corporate and manufacturing jobs here as soon as this year.

Neither Gordon nor Broome would identify the companies, saying they had signed non-disclosure agreements.

Gordon said the region and state need to create more jobs to recover from the recession.

“If we don’t keep people employed and stop the hemorrhaging . . . we won’t be able to keep the state a safe state and the city a great city,” Gordon said.

Article appears courtesy of The Arizona Republic

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2009/03/09/20090309biz-phx-corridor0310.html