To: Jacob Snyder who wrote (9404 ) 11/24/2010 6:50:36 PM From: Eric Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 16955 Just out from CS this morning on FSLR: AV Solar Ranch Allowed to Move Forward, as Expected; Cash Grant in Jeopardy Bottom line. The LA County Board of Supervisors allowed FSLR’s 230MW AV Solar Ranch One project to move forward, rejecting Northrop Grumman’s appeal to delay the project. We had expected the project to move forward and we are maintaining our FSLR estimates after attending the hearing. The next step for FSLR will be to obtain building permits and plan checks to start construction. The best-case scenario is for FSLR to incur at least 5% of project construction costs by year end to qualify for the ITC cash grant. Approval followed statements of support from LA County Regional Planning staff, community members, and FSLR. The speakers repeated the benefits of the project including 400 jobs, $50mm in local taxes, andclean energy. In an exchange that grew heated at times, the Regional Planning Commission reprimanded Northrop Grumman for the last-minute appeal after the project’s approval on Sep. 15 and for delivering over 1,000 pages on Fri last week and a weblink of 1,500 pages the day before the appeal hearing to the planning commission. The documents copied verbatim portions of Northrop Grumman’s comments against the Rosamond solar project, approved by Kern County recently. The attorney for Northrop Grumman claimed that while their law office knew of AV Solar Ranch in February 2010, Northrop Grumman learned of the project only on Sep. 16, 2010, the day after it was approved. A director of engineering for Northrop repeated company claims that the solar installation would render their radar facility useless and hinder their ability to develop stealth aircraft. In contrast, the Department of Defense claims the appeal is a dispute between 2 private parties and that they have “no position” on the solar installation.As well, a study by Exponent Inc. claims that the solar installations would have no effect on the radar facility. As mentioned, we maintain our estimates for FSLR. Companies Mentioned (Price as of 22 Nov 10) Exponent Inc. (EXPO, $33.06) First Solar (FSLR, $124.20, NEUTRAL [V], TP $127.50) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC, $62.28, RESTRICTED)