CPUC Takes Another Step Toward State's Renewable Energy Goal With Approval of Two PG&E Contracts

California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

_________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #s: Res E-4330

Res E-4336

CPUC TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD STATE'S RENEWABLE ENERGY GOAL WITH APPROVAL OF TWO PG&E CONTRACTS

SAN FRANCISCO, June 3, 2010 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved two renewable energy contracts for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), furthering the state's progress towards its renewable energy goals.

Through its 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with NextLight Renewable Power, LLC, PG&E will procure renewable generation from the Agua Caliente Solar photovoltaic facility. The 290 megawatt facility is being developed in Yuma County, Arizona, with its first point of interconnection with the Western Electricity Coordinating Council transmission system and within the California Independent System Operator balancing authority. Under the agreement, PG&E will receive an average of approximately 688 gigawatt hours of energy per year beginning in 2014.

PG&E's 25-year PPA with DTE Stockton, LLC, authorizes PG&E to procure generation from a fossil-to-biomass conversion project. Specifically, DTE Stockton proposes to convert the existing facility, which currently generates electricity from coal, to a facility powered with Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS)-eligible biomass. The 45 megawatt facility is located in Stockton and renewable deliveries are expected to begin in 2013.

The CPUC's RPS program requires investor-owned utilities, energy service providers, and community choice aggregators operating in California to obtain 20 percent of their retail sales from renewable energy sources by 2010. On November 17, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order (S-14-08), which established a 33 percent by 2020 RPS goal. Additionally, on April 25, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order (S-06-06), which established that 20 percent of the renewable electricity should be generated from biomass resources within the state by 2010.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

###