[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26779]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING DON BRANDT ON BEING NAMED THE SOLAR ELECTRIC POWER 
                 ASSOCIATION'S UTILITY CEO OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2009

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Don Brandt, 
who was recently named Utility CEO of the Year by the Solar Electric 
Power Association. This award honors Don's exemplary leadership and the 
outstanding progress the Arizona Public Service Company has made under 
his guidance.
  Don has spent more than 25 years in the electric power industry, most 
recently as the Chairman and CEO of APS's parent company, Pinnacle West 
Capital Corporation. Under his leadership, APS has undertaken 
significant solar initiatives including the construction of Solana, 
which will be the world's largest solar plant near Gila Bend, Arizona. 
At the same, APS has committed to invest $500 million to develop 100 
megawatts of utility-owned solar generation, and created the Community 
Power Project, a pilot program to install solar panels on customer 
homes with no upfront cost. Don also partnered with the National Park 
Service to power the Grand Canyon Visitors Center with solar panels.
  According to Solar Electric Power Association Executive Director 
Julia Hamm, ``Don Brandt has positioned APS to take full advantage of 
Arizona's most abundant natural resource, the sun. APS is creating 
viable business models around solar energy that not only push the 
envelope but also push our industry forward.''
  Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Don Brandt's 
contributions to making Arizona the solar capital of the world, and 
congratulating him on this prestigious award.

                          ____________________