Nov 14 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - David DeKok The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.

To anyone who knows the country's climate, the notion of Germany being a leader in the solar energy industry is more than a little odd.

Sunshine and warmth are not plentiful commodities in Germany, and Germans typically flee to warmer climes in Italy, Spain and Croatia for vacations. So why is Hamburg-based Conergy one of the world's leading solar energy firms?

Most give credit to Germany's embrace of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming and generous government subsidies for deploying rooftop solar panels on homes and businesses. Photo-voltaic panels can be seen all over Germany.

Now, Conergy plans to locate its U.S. headquarters in Pennsylvania, probably in the Philadelphia area, although a site has yet to be picked. Gov. Ed Rendell and company officials announced the deal last week. It had been in the works for months, according state officials.

"The international community is taking notice of Pennsylvania's clean-energy efforts," Rendell said. "Pennsylvania's new economy is being powered by clean-energy development."

In a news release on its German-language Web site, Conergy said its SunTechnics and "voltwerk" subsidiaries would work together to sell, finance and build large, utility-scale turnkey solar electricity systems. Pennsylvania utilities must purchase 700 megawatts of solar-produced electricity by 2021 under the state's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards.

The Rendell administration opposes state subsidies for residential rooftop solar electricity systems such as exist in New Jersey, believing they benefit only financially well-off homeowners. State officials want the solar component of the renewable requirement to come mainly from large arrays of solar panels.

State officials previously persuaded Gamesa, a large Spanish wind-energy company, to locate in Pennsylvania.