This year’s party is returning to the Hilton and all indications are that AEE Solar’s annual conference has quickly established itself as one of the top solar events of the year with a full exhibit hall, dealer classes and workshops, plus meals and events.

With a towering atrium as its centerpiece, the Hilton Phoenix East has earned the praise of past attendees for its relaxed networking environment and natural day-lighted expo area. It’s a great setting for soaking in the four days of cutting edge technical training, expert analysis of industry trends, business management and sales seminars, face-to-face access to suppliers, vendor exhibits, social gatherings, golf and lots of fun in the Arizona sun.

“The Mesa Hilton has been very good to us and to our guests," says AEE Solar founder and CTO David Katz. "The conference is a good place to come together to figure out how best to deal with today's market conditions. I think our dealers will find the conference even more valuable this year as a place to gain tools and resources for capitalizing on opportunities in the year ahead."

The conference will open unofficially on Feb. 17 with a golf tournament at one of the most spectacular golf courses in Arizona. Ocotillo Golf Resort is recognized as a Top 50 Resort by Golf World and a 4 1/2 star golf course by Golf Digest.

Or, for those who would rather catch up on the latest in solar technology and research, two tours are scheduled for that afternoon at the largest PV research facility in North America, the APS STAR center in nearby Tempe.

The following three days, Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 18-20, will feature special presentations by industry leaders Bill Brooks, Andy Black and David Katz, plus tradeshow-style product exhibits by top equipment manufacturers and scores of workshops and classes by suppliers and AEE Solar staff.

Brooks, a noted author and trainer, and a leading contributor to the National Electric Code (NEC), is returning to Mesa for a third straight year. His popular four-hour workshop on changes to the 2010 NEC and how to install a code-compliant PV system are applicable toward earning NABCEP CE credits.

Solar industry pioneer David Katz, founder and CTO of AEE Solar, will lead a two-hour discussion on the latest technologies making an impact on the world of PV and renewable electrical power generation.

Andy Black, founder of OnGrid Solar and widely recognized as an expert and innovator in the development of software for demonstrating payback for solar systems, will give a two-hour presentation featuring his OnGrid Solar Financial Analysis Tool.

Many top suppliers, including Evergreen, REC, SolarWorld, Unirac, Xantrex, SMA, OutBack, Fronius, Enphase, Southwest Windpower and PV Powered, have planned expo-style exhibits and numerous trainings filling eight classrooms for three full days.

The exhibit hall and dealer classes will provide solar professionals with excellent opportunities for gathering valuable information and training. Last year's participants reported that networking during social events, meals and free time gave them insight and new inspiration as well.

Once the conference is over, those who stay over an extra day can join a friendly group of hiking enthusiasts for a Feb. 21 day trek through the spectacular Superstition Mountains.

Bookending the 3rd Annual AEE Solar Dealer Conference are three five-day training workshops led by Solar Energy International, the Colorado-based renewable energy systems school widely recognized as the top trainers in the solar industry today. All classes will be held at the Mesa Courtyard Phoenix. The SEI hands-on "Grid -Tie PV" (beginner) training begins Feb. 11, the week immediately preceding the conference. Two concurrent "Advanced PV" training courses will be held the week immediately after the conference, beginning Feb. 22. These specially arranged 5-day trainings are for AEE dealers only. A limited number of seats are available for the training seminars.

The $349 registration fee covers admission to the expo hall, all workshop classes, guest reception, opening breakfast, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners. Space is limited, and since each year’s attendance has exceeded expectations, early registration is highly recommended.

The 3rd Annual AEE Solar Dealer Conference and SEI training seminars are open only to authorized AEE Solar dealers. For more information about the AEE Solar Dealer Conference, please visit http://aeesolar.com/events/dealer-conference-10/index.html or contact James McCay at jmccay@aeesolar.com or Jeff Spies at jspies@aeesolar.com .