Pacific Gas & Electric Adds Utility-Scale Solar Projects to Its Power Mix

http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNAPR825.htm

Pacific Gas and Electric has entered into agreements with two developers of utility-scale photovoltaic solar power: Cleantech America LLC and GreenVolts, Inc. The agreements will deliver up to seven megawatts (MW) of utility-scale renewable solar energy for PG&E's customers throughout Northern and Central California.

"These projects provide PG&E with a clean, reliable, and cost efficient way to deliver additional solar power to our customers," said Fong Wan, vice president of Energy Procurement, PG&E. "By harnessing the power of the sun's rays in a scalable way, we are taking a significant step towards reaching California's renewable portfolio goal of supplying twenty percent of our customer needs with qualifying renewable energy by 2010."

Under the agreements, the projects will be completed in 2009. Both projects utilize photovoltaic technologies to collect sunlight and convert it directly to electricity. The solar power plants will be located in close proximity to PG&E's infrastructure and customer base to reduce transmission costs.

Cleantech America's CalRENEW-1 project, located near PG&E's Mendota substation in Fresno County, will provide PG&E with five megawatts of energy and will represent one of the largest pure photovoltaic facilities in the United States. Covering approximately 40 acres, the CalRENEW-1 project will serve as a peak solar facility, providing reliable zero-emission energy when it is most needed - at the hottest times of the day during the hottest months.

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