Ausra sells proposed Carrizo solar project Ausra, Inc. has sold its Carrizo Energy Solar Farm, the solar steam-technology power project proposed for the Carrizo Plain, to First Solar, one of the two other companies that have proposed solar-generating plants in the Carrizo. The sale means that now there are two solar projects – not three – proposed for our county. First Solar, already actively involved in the local community, is the largest manufacturer of thin-film solar panels in the world. Its proposed 550MW project will not change in size but the purchase of the Ausra project will give First Solar “the flexibility to offer San Luis Obispo County a revised layout to consider for First Solar's Topaz Solar Farm. The revision reduces impacts, responding to concerns such as farmland conservation and wildlife needs," said Kathryn Arbeit, Topaz project development director at First Solar. City considers ban on outdoor smoking in public places Responding to several dozen citizen complaints, the City Council has asked staff to informally survey community attitude on this issue and come back with recommendations. San Luis Obispo was the first city in the world to ban smoking in all indoor public places some 20 years ago. Since then, a number of cities have gone farther with a variety of different ideas. Some have instituted smoking bans in parks, arenas, beaches, and even for city sidewalks and plazas. The Chamber has been asked to weigh in on possible outdoor smoking bans, how far they should go, and how they might affect local businesses, both positively and negatively. You can let us know how you feel by taking this quick five-question poll. Click here. Huge challenge, huge opportunity: the Dioptics building will soon be vacant One of San Luis Obispo’s largest commercial/industrial buildings, the 116,000-square-foot Dioptics Building just South of the city limits, is likely to be completely vacant soon. Dioptics was purchased last year by the parent company of Foster Grant, and even though the new buyers said they would make the SLO facility their West Coast distribution center, that never came to pass. Last week, the company announced a layoff of most of their 65 local employees and an end to distribution operations here. The building is locally owned, and insiders report that the owners expect Dioptics to vacate the entire building when its lease ends next year. The building with its 20,000 square feet of office space will be an attractive location for a high-tech company but will enter the market at a very challenging time for large commercial space. Congratulations! Nine top leaders elected to Chamber Board A record number of Chamber members voted in last week’s Board of Directors election. The votes totaled 30 percent more than ever before. This year, the election was conducted solely online, which may have contributed to the record vote. Here are the winners.   Russ Levanway CEO TekTegrity Clint Pearce Real Estate Manager Madonna Enterprises Bruce Ray President, Publisher The Tribune Missy Reitner-Cameron Creative Director iii Design Charlene Rosales COO United Way of San Luis Obispo County Rick Stollmeyer CEO, Founder MINDBODY Brian Talley President Talley Vineyards, Talley Farms Kristen Yetter President Promega Biosciences Ron Yukelson Associate Director Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Wineman sign returns The nearly complete restoration of the Wineman Hotel reached a milestone this morning with the return of the historic 1929 corner sign. The sign had been in storage during reconstruction and was completely restored to its original 1929 appearance. What a great finishing touch on a truly community-enhancing project.

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