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28 <br />DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR CLUSTER IN ORANGE COUNTY April 13, 2009 <br />Orange County Economic Development Commission <br />Additional Incentives <br />A survey was conducted by IEI (2008) to determine what renewable energy <br />companies needed to be successful. The survey reported that 86% of the renewable <br />energy companies felt that state economic development incentives aze key to the success <br />of their industry (IEI, 2008). In addition to the incentives discussed above, no-interest or <br />low-interest loans for small businesses, tax breaks and/or free trade zones for <br />manufacturers of renewable energy products, site prepazation allowances, and <br />infrastructure development allowances can be used to incentivize businesses to locate in <br />Orange County. <br />Conclusion <br />The demand for additional energy sources is real. Development of a renewable <br />energy business segment in Orange County makes sense. A survey conducted by IEI <br />(2008) stated that the three most important criteria for <br />success of energy businesses are the regulatory <br />structure, accessible capital, and adequately trained <br />and available workforce (IEI, 2008). Development of <br />a hospitable business climate by ensuring that zoning <br />and permitting regulations aze as streamlined and <br />Enough sunlight <br />falls on the <br />earth's surface <br />each minute to <br />meet world <br />energy demand <br />for an entire year. <br />American Solaz Energy Society <br />applicable as possible and ensuring the local workforce skilled in the needed azeas, and <br />training programs are in place to meet the needs of the industry. <br />The perfect storm of events is here -the need to diversify our tax base is cleazer <br />than ever before, the economic and environmental cost of traditional energy will continue <br />to rise, the regulatory network azound energy is becoming more accepting of renewable <br />sources, the costs of renewable energies are reflecting the economies of scale and aze <br />For EDC use only 22 <br />