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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #: Res E-4266

CPUC TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD STATE'S RENEWABLE ENERGY GOAL WITH APPROVAL OF RENEWABLE CONTRACTS

SAN FRANCISCO, August 20, 2009 - 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.

The table below provides a brief explanation of the projects:

Through its agreements with BrightSource Energy, Inc., PG&E will receive deliveries up to 800 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy per year from two new solar thermal facilities, with deliveries beginning in 2012. PG&E also negotiated a Royalty Agreement with BrightSource for payments based on sales and licensing fees of its technology. The Royalty Agreement is expected to provide financial benefits to PG&E and its customers. Oakland-based BrightSource's solar thermal technology has demonstrated the capability of producing high temperature steam and pressure, while requiring relatively low water use.

The CPUC's Renewables Portfolio Standard (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 an Executive Order (S-14-08), which established a 33 percent by 2020 RPS goal.

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

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