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Your Guide to a Great SPI

My favorite part of Solar Power International (SPI), which comes to Las Vegas this October, isn’t hard to figure out: It’s seeing the innovations, participating in the educational opportunities and being among like-minded solar advocates.

To help you have a great show experience, we have compiled tips and events you don’t want to miss in our Special Section on SPI. Here is some of the information you will find:

• If this is your first time at the show, bringing comfortable shoes and bottles of water may be obvious, but have you prepared other essentials, such as an hour-by-hour show schedule? Learn how to best tackle the floor and more with my SPI Survival Guide.
• It’s easy to get drawn in by the over-the-top booths, but some of the most fascinating innovations may be in the Start-Up Alley pavilion. Managing Editor Kathie Zipp highlights the contest, which recognizes innovative start-up solar companies.
• Did you know the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, a 3,309-room hotel on The Strip, is one of the latest examples of the solar revolution? Associate Editor Steven Bushong explores the project, which will be completed about the time SPI descends on the city.
• We have also compiled a list of not-to-miss panels, networking events and more.

Finally, I want to welcome Executive Editor Lee Teschler to the Solar Power World team. He’s an electrical engineer with 37 years of experience writing on the subject. You can read his first piece for us, detailing new NEC regulations, in our Engineering Developments feature.