PG&E and BrightSource Sign Record Solar Power Deal
May 13 2009 - 12:35PM
PR Newswire (US)
Power Output of Solar Projects is Expected to Equal the Consumption
of 530,000 Average Homes SAN FRANCISCO, May 13
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E) announced today that it has entered into a series of
contracts with BrightSource Energy, Inc. for a record total of
1,310 megawatts (MW) of solar thermal power. These power purchase
agreements, covering seven projects, supersede the agreements
PG&E executed with BrightSource in April 2008 for up to 900 MW
of solar thermal power. The first of these solar power plants,
sized at 110 MW and located in Ivanpah, Calif., is contracted to
begin operation in 2012. BrightSource will build and place in
commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting
and infrastructure allow. All seven projects are expected to
produce 3,666 gigawatt-hours of power each year, equal to the
annual consumption of about 530,000 average homes. "The solar
thermal projects announced today exemplify PG&E's commitment to
increasing the amount of renewable energy we provide to our
customers throughout northern and central California," said John
Conway, senior vice president of energy supply for PG&E.
"Through these agreements with BrightSource, we can harness the
sun's energy to meet our customers' power requirements when they
need it most - during hot summer days." "Today's agreements reflect
the technological milestones that the BrightSource Energy team has
achieved over the past year," said John Woolard, CEO of
BrightSource Energy. "Our technology is setting the bar for
efficient production of solar energy. We're thrilled by the
opportunity to help PG&E and other leaders bring energy
customers more clean and reliable solar energy." Since 2002,
PG&E has entered into contracts for more than 20 percent of its
future electric power deliveries from renewable sources. On
average, half of the electricity PG&E delivers to its customers
comes from carbon-free generating sources, making the company's
energy some of the cleanest in the nation. About BrightSource
Energy BrightSource Energy, Inc. provides clean, reliable and low
cost solar energy for utility and industrial companies worldwide.
The BrightSource Energy team combines nearly three decades of
experience designing, building and operating the world's largest
solar energy plants with world-class project development
capabilities. The company now has contracted to sell more than
2,600 megawatts of power to be generated using its proprietary
solar thermal technology. BrightSource Energy's solar plants are
designed to minimize their impact on the environment and help
customers reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Headquartered in
Oakland, Calif., BrightSource Energy is a privately held company
with operations in the United States and Israel. To learn more
about BrightSource Energy and solar thermal energy, visit
http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/. About Pacific Gas and Electric
Company Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San
Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the
nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and
central California. For more information, visit
http://www.pge.com/. DATASOURCE: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
CONTACT: PG&E External Communications, +1-415-973-5930; or
Vanessa Lindlaw of Hill & Knowlton, +1-415-281-7125, for
BrightSource Energy Web Site: http://www.pge.com/
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