The Board of Directors of Martifer Solar USA has named Roland Kiser as its new Chief Executive Officer effective March 13, 2013. He joined the company in November 2012 as the Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kiser will be a key leader in Martifer Solar’s new strategy. “I look forward to leading Martifer Solar USA and our colleagues. We have a very strong position for expanding our business and I am convinced we will deliver on our long-term growth targets in the coming years,” said Mr. Kiser.

Mr. Kiser succeeds Raffi Agopian, who will become Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 2001, Mr. Agopian founded A&M Energy Solutions, a company in which Martifer Solar invested in 2008. Under his leadership Martifer Solar USA has grown from a regional installation company operating solely in Southern California to a nationwide EPC servicing Fortune 1000 and industrial accounts. Mr. Agopian developed the core values and visualization of what Martifer Solar USA is today. “We thank Raffi for all that he has accomplished with Martifer Solar USA. He helped steer the growth that our Company has
achieved over the years and has built a strong team,” stated Henrique Rodrigues, CEO of Martifer Solar S.A.

In addition, the Board of Directors of Martifer Solar USA has appointed Klaus Bernhart as its new Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bernhart has more than 35 years of international experience in both commercial and investment banking in Europe and the U.S. and will be a valuable addition to the team.

Besides Martifer Solar USA’s new executives, Martifer Solar S.A. has also appointed Pedro Gomes Pereira the new Regional Head for North America (USA and Canada). He will be responsible for all the group activities involving Martifer Solar USA, Martifer Solar Canada and a Member of the Board of the Martifer-Silverado Fund 1, the San Francisco-based utility-scale solar joint venture with Silverado Power. Mr. Pereira has been working with Martifer Solar in Europe for more than five years and has extensive knowledge of the company’s operations, development and finance standards.

Finally, Ricardo Abecassis has been appointed VP, Development for Martifer Solar’s work with the Martifer-Silverado Fund 1. Mr. Abecassis has been with Martifer Group since 2007 and has been an integral member in developing the U.S. market, where he has managed strategic partnerships for both wind and solar energy activity.

The combination of the new executive team’s adept renewable energy backgrounds will contribute to the strength of the existing management team. Together they will drive Martifer Solar’s goal of aggressively expanding the business in North America.

“Achieving continued growth and profitability was important to the Board when finalizing these changes. We are convinced about these management changes and look forward to a successful future,” remarked Henrique Rodrigues, CEO of Martifer Solar S.A.

About Martifer Solar USA, Inc. — Martifer Solar USA, Inc. (Martifer Solar USA) specializes in solar engineering, procurement, and construction services. The company has delivered quality solutions to public and private clients in the United States. Please visit www.martifersolarusa.com.

Martifer Solar USA is a subsidiary of Martifer Solar S.A. (www.martifersolar.com), a multinational solar developer and installation company with over 300 MW of solar assets installed worldwide and activities in more than 20 countries over 4 continents.

Martifer Solar Names New Executive Officers in North America is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

The Century City system will consist of three rooftop arrays and a series of shade canopies. The rooftop arrays will be built above spaces currently occupied by a movie theater, restaurant, and common areas; shade canopies will be installed as part of a new construction process, which will include the addition of a four-story parking structure to the property. Martifer Solar USA is expected to collaborate closely with the Westfield design team to provide a visually attractive system with optimal production rates.

“The Westfield Group is committed to responsible energy management,” stated Joe Jaworski, Westfield’s Vice President of National Operations. “The solar installation at Century City will provide several advantages: return to our investors, competitive edge for our business, and the reassurance to our customers and our community that we are making environmentally sound choices. The immediate payoffs are considerable, and any positive impact that we can make on long-term air quality is beneficial to the
Southern California region, where we are a longstanding retail presence.”

Alta Energy, a solar analytics and procurement company, served as project coordinator and was an integral part of the project’s realization. As explained by Sam Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Alta Energy, “We identified Century City as a strategic priority for the Westfield Group based on a comprehensive assessment of multiple properties. Not only will the system meet financial and environmental objectives, but a flagship property like Century City provides a platform to make a definitive statement about the
importance of clean energy as a corporate sustainability practice.”

Kathy Huber, Alta Energy’s Vice President of Acquisitions, commented on the proposal process: “The continued partnership between the Westfield Group and Martifer Solar USA exemplifies Alta Energy’s ability to match qualified vendors with businesses that want to participate in the solar energy movement. The synergies between the Westfield Group and Martifer Solar, both global heavyweights in their respective industries, represent the best that solar partnerships have to offer.”

In addition to a strong relationship with its contractor, the feasibility of Westfield’s installations at Topanga and Fashion Square shopping malls was in part attributable to the 30% tax credit currently offered by the federal government, as well as attractive state and local market conditions. The Westfield Group is thought to be one of the country’s largest REITs to own and operate its own photovoltaic systems.

“The installations at Westfield Topanga and Westfield Fashion Square have proven to be successful,” states Raffi Agopian, Chief Executive Officer of Martifer Solar USA. “With a demonstrated financial model and established partnership, the pieces are in place for Martifer Solar USA to give Westfield and its shareholders the best return on their solar investment at Century City.”

Joe Jaworski anticipates a positive outcome. “This solar initiative has been continuously rewarding relationship for us and our partners. We are eager to expand our role as a leader in sustainable business practices, and integrating solar into the energy mix at Century City is a step in that direction.”

About Martifer Solar USA, Inc. — Martifer Solar USA, Inc. (Martifer Solar USA) specializes in the design, engineering and installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The company has been providing turnkey solar integration services in the United States market since 2001. Please visit www.martifersolarusa.com.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Martifer Solar S.A. (www.martifersolar.com), a multinational solar manufacturer and installation company with over 300 MW of solar assets installed worldwide. Martifer Solar S.A. operates in more than 20 countries and reported revenues of more than $400 million in 2011.

About Alta Energy — Alta Energy www.alta-energy.com is an independent solar analytics and procurement company that enables commercial property owners to identify and complete cost-effective solar projects with confidence. As an objective third party, Alta Energy helps owners of retail, industrial, and office buildings evaluate the business case for solar using a consistent, comprehensive model, and then monitors market and policy conditions for the best solar deployment opportunities. Alta Energy’s multiple
bid process ensures that property owners select the right solar vendors and the best terms for each project. By identifying economically sound commercial solar projects and matching them with qualified vendors, Alta Energy accelerates the growth of solar power in the United States.

About the Westfield Group — The Westfield Group (ASX: WDC) is an Australian-based company with interests in 105 shopping centers in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. In the U.S., the Group has a portfolio of 47 shopping centers that are home to more than 7,900 specialty stores and comprise approximately 56 million square feet of leasable space in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and
Washington.

The Westfield Group Awards Third Contract to Martifer Solar USA is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

“I am pleased to join Martifer Solar USA at this critical juncture,” Mr. Kiser states. “We are poised to secure and sustain increasing national market share through strategic financing, responsible growth management, and visionary leadership.”

Mr. Kiser’s extensive experience financing renewable energy projects includes developing a $6 billion business unit at HSH Nordbank that funded over 4.5 GW of wind and solar plants, becoming a leading source of clean energy capital in North America. More recently, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Kenyon Energy, he supported an aggressive growth strategy to provide the organization with funding for their pipeline of photovoltaic projects.

“Roland Kiser’s track record leading organizations through periods of rapid expansion aligns precisely with our current priorities,” stated Raffi Agopian, Chief Executive Officer of Martifer Solar USA. “His industry expertise and ambitious vision add tremendous value to the company.”

About Martifer Solar USA, Inc. — Martifer Solar USA, Inc. (Martifer Solar USA) specializes in the design, engineering and installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The company has been providing turnkey solar integration services in the United States market since 2001. Please visit www.martifersolarusa.com.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Martifer Solar S.A. (www.martifersolar.com), a multinational solar manufacturer and installation company with over 250 MW of solar assets installed worldwide. Martifer Solar S.A. operates in more than 20 countries and reported revenues of more than $400 million in 2011.

Roland Kiser Appointed Chief Financial Officer of Martifer Solar USA is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

“Both the Town Staff and Council are extremely proud of what we have achieved with this solar project,” stated Town of Breckenridge Financial Services Manager Brian Waldes. “We always knew that this project would work well for the Town in terms of energy and financial savings, but actually seeing it in action has been even more rewarding than we had hoped.”

Working with Breckenridge based solar firm Innovative Energy, Martifer Solar USA built both rooftop and ground mounted arrays across Breckenridge maintenance, recreation, and law enforcement facilities. “In terms of local job creation, this was the ideal partnership,” stated Eric Westerhoff, President of Innovative Energy. “Combined with Martifer Solar’s global expertise and design experience, Innovative Energy’s high
elevation expertise and local know-how were a true asset to Breckenridge’s solar efforts.”

Breckenridge Mayor, Dr. John Warner, credits the success of the system to the close collaboration among Martifer Solar USA, Innovative Energy, project financier Renewable Social Benefit Funds, and local officials and residents. “It was truly a group effort to customize the design, development, construction, and maintenance of these arrays to precisely fit the needs of Breckenridge,” he stated. “Even with challenges presented by our high alpine environment, we are excited that the system is performing above expectations.”

The project was structured as a Power Purchase Agreement, in which Renewable Social Benefit Funds covered 100% of installation costs and is responsible for system maintenance. The agreement thus eliminated any use of public funds for upfront or ongoing expenses. The town pays for the power generated at each site, at a rate lower than what they had been paying to their utility provider and well below projected rises in the price of fossil fuel over the lifetime of the system. The arrangement allowed
Breckenridge to respond to citizens’ interest in creating a more sustainable community without adversely affecting its budget.

“Solar was a natural and profitable solution to Breckenridge’s energy needs,” stated Kent James, Chief Strategy Officer for Martifer Solar USA, Inc. “With the decision to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions, Breckenridge improved cash flow under tight budget conditions, promoted economic growth, and demonstrated ways of working towards sustainability without high capital investment.”

The system is expected to offset approximately one-tenth of the town’s total annual electricity consumption. The resulting taxpayer savings amount to nearly to $1 million over 20 years. “Every minute the sun is shining, we are putting money back into our budget and offsetting dangerous greenhouse gas emissions,” remarked Mayor Warner. “We are protecting ourselves from climate change, which can affect the precious snowfalls that make Breckenridge such an attractive tourist destination and place to live. And
that feels pretty good.”

About Martifer Solar USA, Inc. — Martifer Solar USA, Inc. (Martifer Solar USA) specializes in the design, engineering and installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The company has been providing turnkey solar integration services in the United States market since 2001. Please visit www.martifersolarusa.com.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Martifer Solar S.A. (www.martifersolar.com), a multinational solar manufacturer and installation company with over 200 MW of solar assets installed worldwide. Martifer Solar S.A. operates in more than 20 countries and reported revenues of more than $400 million in 2011.

About Renewable Social Benefit Funds, L3C – Renewable Social Benefit Funds (RSB Funds) (www.rsbfunds.com) is an alternative energy company focused on bringing solar power to nonprofits, municipalities, hospitals, schools, low-income housing projects and other tax-exempt entities. RSB Funds develops solar projects for its clients that require no initial investment, provide the best-in-breed operation and maintenance, and always reduce energy costs so that savings can be used to support mission- critical programs. For more information contact jdj@rsbfunds.com.

About Innovative Energy – Innovative Energy brings you over 20 years of renewable energy design and installation experience in Colorado’s High Country. We work directly with our customers from site assessment, individualized system design, incentive and permit management, and throughout the life of the system to ensure optimal system performance and customer satisfaction. Contact us at 970.453.5384,
info@renewablepower.com, or check us out at www.RenewablePower.com.

About the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado – Breckenridge (www.townofbreckenridge.com) is a quaint Victorian town in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. The character of Breckenridge is ever evolving – from its rich, colorful past, established in 1859 as a small mining outpost, to one of the top mountain resort destinations in the world. Breckenridge balances its past and future, continually providing
an unparalleled experience for residents and visitors as well as keeping an eye to its sustainable future.

Breckenridge Residents, Visitors Enjoying Solar Payoff is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

“With demonstrated success in Colorado and net metering legislation on the table in California, now is the time for community owned solar,” stated Raffi Agopian, Chief Executive Officer of Martifer Solar USA. “We have always sought innovative ways to deliver solar power to Americans, and our partnership with the Clean Energy Collective represents the best of those efforts. Their unique ownership model, combined with our expertise in project development, design and construction, has secured over a megawatt of contracts so far this year. We are already looking at a total project pipeline in excess of five
megawatts for 2012.”

Kent James, Chief Strategy Officer at Martifer Solar USA, indicated that community owned solar gardens play a key role in the company’s business model. “Community owned solar has the potential to bring clean energy to five times more customers than traditional residential ownership. That potential makes this market a major strategic focus for us going forward.”

The two companies collaborated to complete the 858-kilowatt Garfield County Airport Solar Array in 2011, which upon its completion was the largest community owned solar garden in the United States. “The program is highly subscribed, and outperforming our expectations a year after its completion,” stated Paul Spencer, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Energy Collective. (Based on the success of the project, the Garfield County Solar Array was awarded the 2012 Photovoltaic Project of Distinction Award by the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Solar Electric Power Association.)
“We have proven that community owned solar works, and works well. Customers, utilities, and the solar industry are all paying attention.”

Near term opportunities for the Clean Energy Collective and Martifer Solar USA include similar collaborations for two additional projects in Colorado, located in San Miguel Power Association and Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association territories. The San Miguel project, at 1.15 MW, is expected to be the largest community-owned solar array in the nation, surpassing the Garfield County Airport array. “Demand for community owned solar gardens took off when panels became available for purchase in Garfield County,” stated Nick Galesic, Vice President of Martifer Solar USA’s Central region, which managed engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for the project. “We are confident that the San Miguel and Poudre Valley projects will replicate the success we’ve seen in Garfield County.”

The Clean Energy Collective and Martifer Solar USA agree that community owned solar is not without its challenges. “Selecting a construction partner with the right capabilities is critical to the execution and lasting success of community owned solar gardens. Given Martifer Solar USA’s ten year track record installing solar in the United States, the expertise of the Clean Energy Collective, and our experience working together, this is the ideal partnership for implementing community solar on a larger scale,” stated Paul Spencer. “We invested heavily in the development of the solar garden concept, but someone has to execute. Martifer Solar USA has done so in the past and achieved the results we wanted; we are pleased to enter into new contracts with them this year, and see many more on the horizon.”

Together, the Clean Energy Collective and Martifer Solar USA expect to enter contracts for over five megawatts of community owned solar gardens throughout the United States in 2012.

About Martifer Solar USA, Inc. — Martifer Solar USA, Inc. (Martifer Solar USA) specializes in the design, engineering and installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The company has been providing turnkey solar integration services in the United States market since 2001. Please visit www.martifersolarusa.com.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Martifer Solar S.A. (www.martifersolar.com), a multinational solar manufacturer and installation company with over 200 MW of solar assets installed worldwide. Martifer Solar S.A. operates in more than 20 countries and reported revenues of more than $400 million in 2011.

About Clean Energy Collective — The Clean Energy Collective is a developer of community-based renewable energy facilities and a national leader in community power generation. The Colorado-based company has pioneered the model of delivering clean power-generation through large-scale facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. The CEC’s proprietary RemoteMeter® system automatically calculates monthly credits and integrates with existing utility billing systems, enabling all utility customers to easily have clean, renewable power credited directly on their monthly utility bills, without modifying their home or office. ww.EasyCleanEnergy.com or (800) 646-0323.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. and the Clean Energy Collective Open Solar Floodgates is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

“The installation of solar at our headquarters is just another element of our dedication to renewable energy,” said Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and CEO, Hertz. “We are very pleased with the outcome of this project and we commend Martifer Solar USA for their assistance throughout the entire process from the design, engineering and construction and for being a key partner in Hertz’s solar initiative.”

The 900-panel array is expected to offset over 9 million pounds of carbon dioxide in its lifetime—equivalent to recycling 1,485 tons of waste instead of sending it to the
landfill.

“Hertz’s installation and commitment to renewable energy will provide the company with a competitive advantage in the form of drastically lower energy costs and a leadership
position in the energy sustainability movement. We are privileged to be able to work with such a renowned Fortune 500 company in their endeavors to set an industry clean energy standard,” said Raffi Agopian, CEO of Martifer Solar USA.

The Park Ridge installation was part of a multi-site undertaking that is the first of several anticipated Hertz solar projects nationwide.

About Martifer Solar USA, Inc. — Martifer Solar USA, Inc. (Martifer Solar USA) specializes in the design, engineering and installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The company has been providing turnkey solar integration services in the United States market since 2001. Please visit www.martifersolarusa.com.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Martifer Solar S.A. (www.martifersolar.com), a multinational solar manufacturer and installation company with over 200 MW of solar assets installed worldwide. Martifer Solar S.A. operates in more than 20 countries and reported revenues of more than $400 million in 2011.

About Hertz — Hertz, the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operates from approximately 8,650 corporate and licensee locations in approximately 150 countries. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 119 major airports in Europe. Hertz was voted the Best Overall Car Rental Company in Zagat’s 2012/13 U.S. Car Rental Survey, earning top honors in 14 additional categories, and the Company swept the global awards for Best Rewards Program and Best Overall Benefits from FlyerTalk.com. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz Gold Choice, NeverLost®, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the Company’s Adrenaline, Prestige and Green Traveler Collections, also set Hertz apart from the competition. Additionally, Hertz owns the vehicle leasing and fleet management leader Donlen Corporation and operates the Hertz On Demand car sharing business. The Company also owns a leading North American equipment rental business, Hertz Equipment Rental
Corporation, which includes Hertz Entertainment Services.

Hertz Global Headquarters Outfitted with Martifer Solar USA Photovoltaic System is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

Solar myths infographic by pv magazine

Read more: http://www.pv-magazine.com/features/solar-superhero/infographic-setting-the-solar-story-straight/#ixzz1z79hVXQB

Setting the Solar Story Straight is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

Click here to view the embedded video.

E-470 Goes Solar is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

Following Martifer Solar USA’s thorough analysis of several properties, Westfield selected its Topanga and Fashion Square facilities as the most suitable for meeting the firm’s sustainability, customer experience and financial performance objectives. “I applaud Westfield for their out of the box thinking in financing this project,” remarked
Martifer Solar USA’s Chief Strategy Officer Kent James, who led the structuring of the deal. “Westfield offset more than long term energy consumption; they recovered 30% of the system cost up front through federal grant money available only to system owners. This transforms the solar landscape for REITs seeking to take advantage of solar
incentives.”

“A well-developed Alternative Energy Program is one of the four main strategies of Westfield’s holistic Energy Management Program,” said Joe Jaworski, Westfield’s Vice President of National Operations. “Westfield is proud to be a leader in the shopping center industry in such an important area of interest for our shoppers and the communities that we serve.”

As of the completion of the systems, Martifer Solar USA has undertaken feasibility studies at additional Westfield properties throughout the nation. Raffi Agopian, Chief Executive Officer of Martifer Solar USA, stated, “These systems are proof of solar power’s commercial viability to Westfield’s peer companies – which will set the bar for other businesses to adopt sustainable practices in the near future. Now that we know how profitable solar can be for REITs, the opportunities are limitless.”

About Martifer Solar USA, Inc. — Martifer Solar USA, Inc. specializes in the design, engineering and installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The company has been providing full chain solar integration services in the United States market since 2001.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Martifer Solar SA, a multinational solar manufacturer and installation company with more than 200 MW of solar assets installed worldwide. Martifer Solar SA has offices in 20 nations and reported revenues over $300 million in 2010.

About the Westfield Group — The Westfield Group (ASX: WDC) is an Australian-based company with interests in 118 shopping centers in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. In the U.S., the Group has a portfolio of 55 shopping centers that are home to more than 9,000 specialty stores and comprise approximately 63 million square feet of leasable space in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington.

Martifer Solar USA, Inc. and Westfield Develop Unique Solar Financing Structure is a post from Martifer Solar USA.

The sun gets to work early in the a.m. is a post from Martifer Solar USA.