If you have landed on this web page you are probably wondering why there is no information about Visiquest Solar Ventures.  With some regret, we have decided to shelve the solar business for the following reasons:

1. The product we chose to start our venture with was Uni-Solar thin film laminates.  We felt that a building-integrated product like Uni-Solar would be the future of the industry and allow us to differentiate ourselves from the competition.  Visiquest did not want to have a commodity business where we would have to settle for low margins, high volume and undifferentiated products.  Unfortunately, Uni-Solar’s cost structure was high and did not fall fast enough to be competitive with alternatives.  Their technology seems to have reached a plateau and they did not support American marketing channels very well, if at all. 
2. Many solar manufacturers, including Uni-Solar, adopted a vertically integrated business model that put them in direct competition with third party solar developers like Visiquest.  It is very hard to compete with the manufacturer.
3. Due to America’s tax credit program for subsidizing solar, the power purchase agreement or solar lease became the preferred way (frequently the only way) to develop larger commercial solar projects.  This required an ability to sell tax credits efficiently and attract very low cost debt, neither of which are Visiquest’s core strength.
4. The utility companies in Arizona are permitted to compete in the commercial solar business. They are also responsible for doling out the rebates.  In their latter role, they accumulate their competitor’s cost and product information, while at the same time playing gate keeper to the incentives.
5. The utilities have very deep pockets and a very low cost of capital.  They also have great technical resources.  Consequently the utilities can meet almost any qualification set up in a request for proposal.  Utility competition aside, in our experience, small companies are generally disqualified from competing for meaningful projects due to size and experience. 
6. The solar business requires a very robust outbound marketing campaign.  This requires a sustained sizable investment in human resources in order to have a hope of sourcing jobs.
7. Utility rebate amounts were constantly changing.  And in many cases not available at all.  This made writing proposals and predicting job costs and investment returns nearly impossible.

 

In light of the foregoing competitive challenges, it seemed fruitless to continue promoting Visiquest Solar Ventures.

We have learned a lot about the clean and renewable energy business and still believe it is the key to America’s resurgence.  This starts with electric powered cars which are good for the environment, our trade deficit and national security.  It then translates into utility scale renewable energy plants, electric storage technology advances, smart grids and greater solar power conversion efficiencies through materials science.  Lastly, it requires rebalancing of costs/subsidies between dirty fossil fuels and renewable energy.

If America wants to rebuild itself, it starts with a serious energy policy with energy independence at its center.  Getting cars off of fossil fuels would dramatically reduce the amount of money we send out of this country in oil costs and defensive expenses.  Reinforcing the domestic energy industry, including nuclear, will create a whole host of new jobs.  This should be our new Moon/Mars program.  At this moment in time, America needs less NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and more NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory).