The conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, with the expo across the street in the atrium of the One Market Street building, from October 18-21, 2004.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, OCT. 2004 -- Online registration is now open for Solar Power 2004 (http://www.solarpower2004.com), the premiere U.S. conference and expo for residential and commercial solar applications. Solar Power 2004 will bring together top executives, utility representatives, policymakers, builders, contractors, engineers, and solar enthusiasts in the heart of San Francisco at an event focused on conducting business — and navigating the economic, technical and policy landscape leading to wider solar deployment.

The conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, with the expo across the street in the atrium of the One Market Street building, from October 18-21, 2004.

"Solar Power 2004 is the largest business to business-and-business and business -to-consumer solar forum ever held in the U.S.," notes Solar Electric Power Association Director Julia Judd. "We've received such an overwhelming response from exhibitors and sponsors that we've added another exhibition hall."

"San Francisco is the perfect place to stage this conference and expo," said Ed Smeloff, San Francisco Public Utility Commission Assistant General Manager and co-host of the event. "As the leading solar city in the leading solar state, San Francisco is at the center of one of the world's biggest solar markets. This conference will offer a great venue for conducting business, and yes, no one ever visited the Bay area without having fun."

Solar Power 2004 is shaping up as a 'who's who' of the energy industry, attracting attendees and exhibitors from around the world. More than eight hundred are expected to attend the Conference, and 15,000 potential solar consumers are expected to pass through the expo hall over the three-day event. Solar Power 2004 is being jointly presented by the Solar Electric Power Association
(SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and is co-hosted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Sponsors include BP Solar, Clean Edge, Inc., Madison Gas & Electric, PowerLight Corporation, RWE Schott Solar, Sharp, SMUD, Sun Power & Geothermal Energy, and SRP. Other sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are still available.

The event web site is at http://www.solarpower2004.com

"Solar Power 2004 will include an extensive program covering business and finance, technology adoption, and public policy issues," said Dean Heatherington, Manager of Energy Program Services for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. "We have invited leading figures in business, policy and entertainment who are actively working to make the future bright for solar. This is a must-attend event for everyone whose business is impacted by solar energy."