ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY News Release
August 7, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMERICAN SOLAR ELECTRIC JOINS SKYSONG
Arizona State University announced that Scottsdale-based American Solar Electric will be moving about half of its 32 employees to Skysong - ASU's Scottsdale Innovation Center. American Solar Electric designs and builds photovoltaic (solar-electric) power systems for commercial, industrial and residential clients. The company is responsible for the installation of more than 3 Megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic power in Arizona.
American Solar Electric expects to install about 1.5 MW of solar electric power in 2007, but aims to increase that number to 5 MW per year by 2010. They also plan to expand, opening
regional sales offices this year in Northern and Southern Arizona. Recent large projects include installations for the City of Tucson and Taylor & Associates. The company is currently under
contract to Frito-Lay for what will become one of Arizona's largest rooftop PV systems.
The staff at Skysong will consist of teams focusing in management, engineering, sales, marketing and accounting.
President and Co-Owner Sean Seitz believes that entering into Skysong will present a mutually beneficial atmosphere by building relationships with ASU as well as other companies moving into the Center.
"SkySong provides American Solar Electric with a number synergistic opportunities. Between collaboration with ASU and the other businesses locating at the campus, we expect our presence on the campus to open up new partnerships and business opportunities," Seitz said. "The central location is also desirable and keeps us in close proximity to our construction operations."
Seitz is also pleased to remain close to the company's Scottsdale roots. "Maintaining a presence in Scottsdale is also important to us. It's where we started and we appreciate the leadership the City has given in the area of promoting Green Building and Solar Energy development," Seitz added.
American Solar Electric will join other trendsetting firms at SkySong such as FScreen Sci-Tech Co (a solar technology firm from China); Aurigin Technology (a biomedical technology firm from Singapore); and Sebit (an e-Learning firm from Turkey).
ASU is aggressively developing relationships with institutions, businesses and entrepreneurs in Singapore, Turkey, Ireland, China, Mexico and Germany as part of its strategy to make SkySong a place where global businesses locate and collaborate with Arizona firms and
university innovators. The first phase of SkySong is expected to open in Q4 of 2007.
consist of 1.2 million SF of research, office and retail space in addition to residential units on the site. Located at the intersection of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads-between downtown Scottsdale and the ASU Main campus in Tempe-SkySong will combine technology, innovation, education and business in a collaborative environment that integrates state-of-the-art digital infrastructure into flexible office and research space. Organized around a grand boulevard lined by retail, restaurants and cultural institutions, SkySong will serve the needs of residents, businesses, research and technology industry and academia while building vital networks between university innovations, regional progress and the global technology industry. For more information, visit http://www.skysongcenter.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Leland
ASU Office of Economic Affairs
480-965-0013
karen.leland@asu.edu