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Show 14F The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, February 16, 1986 Arco Solar Is the Exception to a By John F. Lawrence Los Angeles Times Writer The initial idea was for Arco Solar One of the charges frequently leveled at American corporations is that they are preoccupied with the short term. Short-terthinking has resulted in a failure to push new technology and insufficient emphasis on the kind of research and development that produces profits in five or 10 years rather than immediately. So it is encouraging to find an example of the opposite thinking and to find it in a situation where there was an excuse to think short term and cut the companys losses. subAtlantic Richfields sidiary, Arco Solar, was launched amid skyrocketing oil prices with the goal of developing an alternative energy source. With most forecasters oil saying that even would appear cheap in a few years, Arco had high hopes of making solar a significant addition to the nation's energy capacity. Since then, of course, oil prices have turned down dramatically, destroying any real hope that new technologies will provide competitively priced energy any time soon. There is a question of whether research into such technology will continue to any great extent; already, government support is fast dwindling. Arco Solar is one part of the research effort that apparently will survive. It has survived a major restructuring by its parent company of and some drastic its own. It keeps going because Arco is willing to look beyond the continuing red ink at Arco Solar to a day when solar devices become a commercial success, even on a modest scale. It also keeps going because Arco Solar has demonstrated how dogged investment in research and 'development can produce some unexpected results. Those results could make Arco Solar profitable no matter what happens to the price of oil. to develop large fields of photovoltaic cells that would convert the suns energy directly into electricity, supplying power to homes and offices. It completed a plant in just six months to supply power to Southern California Edison, enough to serve 400 homes. Without special tax credits, the plant would not have been financially viable. Still, it will stand as a reminder that the process works if energy ever does become dear again. In the meantime, Arco Solar has focused its attention on some more specialized uses for photovoltaics. Currently, much of its revenue comes from selling power units for remote locations -- - microwave reneater sta Short-Sighte- tions and navigation buoys, to name where bringing in standard forms of power is difficult and expensive. The solar units are the most economical form of energy for such applications and the business, small though it is, is growing by 25 percent to 30 percent a year, says James H. Caldwell Jr., Arco Solars president. That is not enough sales to staying alive, but there are more coming. Arco Solars cells are beginning to show up in small consumer products like calculators, watches and toys. Thats a big market and one that could lead Arco Solar into the black. The challenge beyond that is to make solar units competitive with Just two Rule d REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PARK CITY WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING diesel generators on a broader scale than just on mountaintops. Caldwell believes it is possible. Arco Solar has managed to develop these markets by continuing to push research and development it still spends 35 percent to 40 percent of its revenues on R&D, many times what most companies budget. And it is doing so even as government tax incentives expire. Park City Municipal Corporation is seeking proposals for the sale or lease and adaptive reuse of the War Memorial Building at 427 Main Street, Park City, Utah. The Council is specifically looking for proposals that will use the building as a performing arts or community entertainment facility of a type that fills needs not met by existing facilities. Proposals will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 28, 1986 at the City Recorders Office. For additional information contact William C. Ligety, Planning Director, Park City Municipal Corporation, P.O. Box 1480, Park City, Utah 84060. The importance of such companies as Arco Solar becoming a commercial success even on a small scale is that it keeps the basic research effort in place in case alternative energy supplies are ever needed on a big scale. IF YOUR OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS ARE LOUSY US. CONTACT . . SOMEHOW. IRMEL TRILLIUM Authorised Dealer COHMUNiCiUONS 'HCQRPOfUrtO 4030 SOUTH 500 WEST SUITE 70 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84123 265-929- 2 self-insur- Tolophono Mfei, sotvko, consulting m St. George Area VACATION HOME Move in for under 29,900 New Units Orem SLC 224-114- 5 266-942- 0 you can for end vour money problems M CONSOLIDATE you Mis With a Home Credit Second Mortgage Loan. We also loan on Real Estate Contracts and trust Deed Notes. YOU WONT DISTURB PRESENT MORTGAGES Are You Self Employed? Have Had Credit Problems? See us tor s Second Mortgage Loan. Call 487-081- 1 HOME CREDIT THRIFT G LOAN .. The birth of a baby can be a wonderful experience. But not for the employer trapped in the spiral of rising health benefits costs. If youre one of those employers, you should know about Holy Cross Health Care. As you can see from the actual case history shown, Holy Cross Health Care can make a considerable cost difference. With us, the bill a two-da- y Without us ed maternity stay in the hospital came to $925. That included everything. Under another health benefits program, the costs for this patients services would have been $1,484.09. Holy Cross Health Care saved the employer over $500. Savings like this are typical with Holy Cross Health Care. For all kinds of medical and surgical procedures. The reason is simple. Holy Cross Health Care is a cooperative of hospitals, physicians and employers working together to hold down costs while providing the highest quality care. With this system, were able to offer your employees the freedom to choose from more than 200 physicians throughout the Salt Lake area. At the same time, we do not require that your employees use our physicians only The choice is entirely theirs. Tree booklet details how we cut costs in 10 actual cases. Call or write us at the address below and well send you a free booklet which offers 10 Holy Cross Health Care use histories covering a wide range of medical problems. Youll see for yourself how we made significant reductions in health care costs for companies like yours. What we did for them, we can do for you. Holy Cross Healthcare For the Self-Insure- d Employer 1455 East 21 st South Serving the people of Utahnc1961 JJ 1045 East First South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 (801) Sponsored b Hob Cross Hospu.il ,unl Iu'im r '.Wiln.il Group 350-440- 0 |
