Trade Show Executive Magazine Bestows Award

WASHINGTON, D.C, April 21, 2011— Solar Power International 2010 was named one of the 50 fastest-growing trade shows in the United States by Trade Show Executive magazine. The prestigious award was announced at Trade Show Executive's Fastest 50 Awards Gala & Summit last month.

The largest business-to-business solar energy conference and expo in North America, Solar Power International featured 1,122 companies across the entire solar value chain, compared to 929 companies above the previous year and occupied more than one million square feet of space at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

"At a time when the average show declined 2.7 percent in net square feet, Solar Power International 2010 grew a dramatic 32% in net square footage," said Darlene Guida, President of Trade Show Executive Media Group. "This growth is remarkable, given the prolonged period of weakness in the economy, high unemployment and shrinking consumer confidence," she said "The Solar Power International Trade Sow has truly raised the bar for the trade show industry."

Some 23,300 solar industry professionals, utility executives, investors, and policy makers attended the show which was held last October in Los Angeles. The show's global presence also significantly grew with attendees from 111 countries and nearly a third of all exhibits featuring an international company. Additionally, 2,500 consumers attended the event during the Public Day portion of the show to learn about the burgeoning solar energy industry.

"It is a great honor to be a member of this elite group of 50 top trade shows who earned this distinction, especially since there are more than 13,000 trade shows held across the U.S. each year," says Rhone Resch, president and CEO of Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®). "Not only is it a testimony to the solar power industry annual growth rate of more than 40 percent, but also because no other conference in North America provides the scope and educational programming that's required for industry professionals to succeed in the solar business."

"We're delighted to have been honored by Trade Show Executive magazine with this prestigious award," says Julia Hamm, president and CEO of Solar Electric Power Association® (SEPA®). "Solar Power International is a bellwether for the overall growth among solar utilities and continues to accelerate in both size and scope to meet the growing demands of this rapidly expanding, ever-changing industry. It provides the perfect venue for utility attendees to explore how to develop a viable long-term solar strategy to benefit their organizations, customers, and stakeholders in an environment free of outside influences."

Solar Power International 2011 takes place October 17 - 20, 2011 at the Dallas Convention Center with more than 1,200 exhibitors and more than 23,000 attendees expected. The 2011 show floor has been expanded to 1.2 million gross square feet. For more information about Solar Power International 2011, please visit http://www.solarpowerinternational.com.

Trade Show Executive magazine is the leading publication for trade show executives, with more than 5,000 BPA-audited subscribers.
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About PV America 2011
PV America is presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)® and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) ®, whose combined efforts have created a world-class, regionally focused and vertically integrated event that engages a wide spectrum of industry professionals. Unlike other PV conferences, all proceeds support the expansion of the U.S. solar energy market through SEIA's and SEPA's year-round research and education activities, as well as SEIA's® advocacy efforts.

About SEIA®
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is working to build a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA® works with its 1,000 member companies to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org

About SEPA®
The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA)® is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar power into their energy portfolios. With more than 850 utility and solar industry members, SEPA® provides unbiased utility solar market intelligence, up-to-date information about technologies and business models, and peer-to-peer interaction. From hosting national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA® helps utilities make smart solar decisions. For more information, visit www.solarelectricpower.org