CPUC Takes Another Step Toward Renewable Energy Goal With Approval Of Edison Contracts

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

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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #: Res-E-4126

CPUC TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD RENEWABLE ENERGY GOAL WITH APPROVAL OF EDISON CONTRACTS

SAN FRANCISCO, March 13, 2008 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved two geothermal energy contracts for Southern California Edison, continuing the state's commitment to renewable power.

The table below provides a brief description of the projects:

Generating facility

Type

Term Years

MW Capacity

GWh Energy

Online
Date

Location

Caithness Dixie Valley, LLC

Geothermal, existing

20

50

394

July 2018

Dixie Valley, NV

ORNI #18, LLC

Geothermal, new

20

50-100

416-832

Dec. 2009

North Brawley, CA

Edison currently receives renewable energy from the Caithness Dixie Valley facility under an interim standard offer no. 4 (ISO4) contract. The Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) contract approved today with the facility will commence when the ISO4 contract expires, enabling Edison to keep this eligible renewable energy in its portfolio for 20 additional years.

The ORNI 18 project, being developed by Ormat Nevada, Inc., will be a new 50 megawatt geothermal facility with the potential to expand to 100 megawatts. While the geothermal fuel source was discovered in the early 1980s, it could not be developed until recent advancements in power technology enabled the economic development of the site.

The CPUC's RPS program, one of the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the country, 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.

The proposal voted on by the CPUC is at http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/AGENDA_RESOLUTION/80053.htm.

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

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