Interview with Premier Power’s (OTCBB:PPRW) Dean Marks – On Key Issues in Solar Industry
Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/smallcappulse/feed/~3/404217194/Posted on Friday, September 26th, 2008 | In Small & Micro Cap
SAN DIEGO, September 26, 2008 – - Small Cap Pulse, an independent provider of financial news, analysis and content for the alternative energy and China markets, today announced an interview with leading downstream solar company Premier Power Renewable Energy (OTCBB:PPRW) CEO, Dean Marks, to discuss his views on several key issues on the current environment for the downstream solar market, and how Premier is positioned to benefit.
SCP: What is your perspective on key legislation (Prop 7) which will be up for vote in November, whether it is good or bad for the downstream solar segment in general, and specifically, how it impacts Premier’s business outlook?
Dean R. Marks: I oppose Proposition 7 because it redefines eligible solar projects in a way that excludes solar projects that are less than 30 MW from participating in the Renewable Portfolio Standards program (RPS) The plain reading of Proposition 7 is that only those projects which fall within the definition of a solar and clean energy plant (those that are 30 MW or more) are counted toward the RPS procurement requirements. The state could face major penalties if these standards are not met. So as more states roll out RPS programs, our plan is to replicate our successful business model in all of the other 48 states.
SCP: How about the extension of the tax credits? In an environment where the extension is not renewed, how will Premier’s business be impacted?
Dean R. Marks: As for the future of the ITC: We are on the cusp of a national energy “revolution” – there is little doubt that with the New Year we will not see the most extensive ITC we have had in the history of the solar industry being put forth by either candidate. We are diversified – so bottom line – with or without the ITC we have a growing business. So over the years we have become effective at adapting to the here one day gone the next credits and rebates. This is why we are profitable while others struggle with this market. We have developed strategies that allow us to succeed with or without the ITC, we are diversified in Europe which have Feed in Tariffs and Residential in the US that do not depend on the ITC.
SCP: Much of Wall Street has been soured on the downstream solar segment due to issues of cap ex, and lower margins, as well as the fact that so many companies have struggled to achieve profitability. This is an important differentiator for Premier, I think, in that you are profitable and are now looking for ways to expand margins and drop more to the bottom line. Can you elaborate on how you will pursue this effort?
Dean R. Marks: There is no doubt being profitable is tough in this market, but many of the so called market leaders have staffed up and rolled out offices without having the business in place…we take a different philosophy – we meet demand and we have a deliberate and systematic approach to entering new markets – we don’t take the field of dreams approach -i.e. “Build an office and they will come”. We are not the low bidder – our engineering skills and design expertise secures jobs with margins. As for expanding margins we are starting to see new revenue streams open up. We will look to acquire products and services with added margin and we will use our growth and cash to help reduce cost.
SCP: Where are your target markets, from both a geographical and vertical perspective, and how do you plan to grow them?
Dean Marks: Now that we have two firsts 1.2 mw thin film and large scale bi-directional trackers under our belt we see a whole series of new markets opening up. However, our target markets are unique to us and a competitive advantage – so I don’t want to give too much detail. Suffice to say they are across the spectrum of installations. We believe that part of being stable and profitable is to have a diversified mix of business and we have skills and experience that makes us more qualified then others in certain commercial and fast growing markets where there are fewer competitors. Yet at our core we still have a lot of experience on the residential side and there are some exciting value adds we are expecting to bring to that consumer group.
SCP: There are concerns about future growth in Spain’s markets due to recent legislative moves. How much exposure does Premier have to that dynamic, and how are you reacting?
Dean Marks: In Spain we focus on roof mount installations and not as much on the Solar Farms. So competition is slim. We have installed the first roof mount installation in Pamplona and in Madrid we just completed a ¾ megawatt project for Otis Elevators.
Solar Farming in Spain is getting tougher. But we don’t do solar farming per se. we do roof top installations. The Spanish incentives were written to incentives business to replace their energy use with renewables. We do just that and as a result we have not yet scratched the surface of the Spanish market. SCP:
What, in your opinion, are the three most competitive advantages that Premier has in the marketplace today? Where are the largest risks, and how will you mitigate them?
First, we are diversified across all market segments – we do residential, large and small scale commercial, Industrial and agricultural. Our competitors focus more on smaller residential. Akeena and Real Goods has not done over 750 kw. We just recently completed one of the first thin film installation over 1.2 megawatt in the nation. We have a number of firsts in the industry.
Second, we are diversified geographically – our sales are exploding in Europe
Third, we are profitable and have been for the past three years.
And we are dedicated to owning our customer and installing, upgrading, managing and expanding their systems – we provide excellence that sets us apart.
We always hear from our potential customers that solar sounds too good to be true. We have to tell them that it is all true. No moving parts it just sits there and create green clean electricity, added value to the property, life expectancy of over 30 years, low maintenance and best of all it spins your electric meter backwards. Currently the most challenging issues are keeping up with demand and we mitigate this by managing our in-house integration crews properly and keeping well established relationships with our manufacturers, like GE, Sharp and Sunpower.
Small Cap Pulse
Small Cap Pulse is a San Diego-based financial content and media provider focused on the alternative energy and clean tech markets. For more information about Small Cap Pulse, go to http://www.smallcappulse.com.
Disclosure Note: The SCPEditor, Todd Pitcher, is a principal of Aspire Clean Tech Communications, Inc., a corporate communications firm that has been engaged by Premier Power.The foregoing compilation relates to Premier Power Renewable Energy (OTCBB:PPRW) and contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and similar expressions as they relate to Premier or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Premier’s actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by these forward-looking statements. For more detailed information the reader is referred to Premier’s 10K, 10Q, 8K and other related documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities by the Company and is meant purely for informational purposes. Aspire Clean Tech Communications, Inc. (Aspire) its affiliates, officers, directors, subsidiaries and agents have been compensated by the Company for the creation of this document. Aspire receives $7,500 per month, and 30,000 shares of Premier’s common stock on a 1 year contract. In preparing this information, Aspire has relied upon information received from the Company, which, although believed to be reliable, cannot be guaranteed. This information is not an endorsement of the Company by Aspire. Aspire is not responsible for any claims made by the Company. You should independently investigate and fully understand all risks before investing.
Contact:
Todd M. Pitcher
Phone: 760-798-4938
Last 5 posts by Small Cap Pulse
- Global Hunter’s Justin Cable Maintains Neutral on Ormat (NYSE:ORA) - $45 Price Target - November 6th, 2009
- Global Hunter’s Justin Cable Maintains Neutral on Ormat (NYSE:ORA) - $45 Price Target - November 6th, 2009
- Pacific Crest’s Bachman Downgrades Evergreen Solar (Nasdaq:ESLR) to SECTOR PERFORM - November 6th, 2009
- Bachman Comments on Implications of First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR) Land Purchase From Ausra - November 6th, 2009
- Cowen’s Stone Weighs in on Evergreen Solar (Nasdaq:ESLR) Q3 Results - November 5th, 2009
(GE), Aspire Clean Tech Communications Inc., China, corporate communications, Dean Marks, Dean R. Marks, energy, energy “revolution&rdquo, Energy Use, Europe, green clean electricity, Madrid, media, New Year's Day, Power Renewable, Powerâ, San Diego, Sharp, Small & Micro Cap, small cap pulse, solar and clean energy plant, Spain, Sunpower, Todd Pitcher, United States, wall street
![]() About Small Cap Pulse (http://www.smallcappulse.com/index.php/blog/detail/)
Our focus at Small Cap Pulse is to provide our readers with timely and insightful stock ideas and market information, commentary about the economy and political conditions influencing it. We don't believe that stocks trade in a vacuum, so we believe that it is important to consider macroeconomics, the political climate, seculrar and industry trends that are relevant and necessary to consider when contemplating taking a long or short position, regardless of whether it is a long-term minded investment or a day-trade. So we will spend time discussing general conditions that we believe will influence the performance of companies that we report on in the Small Cap Pulse. We hope that you find our site informative and useful. |



