SAN DIEGO, CA, Jun 05 (MARKET WIRE) --
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced that it has signed two
power-purchase agreements with Naturener for the output from Naturener's
soon-to-be
constructed Glacier Wind Energy facilities in Montana.
Under a long-term renewable energy agreement, the wind farms will add 210
megawatts (MW) or 635,000 megawatt-hours annually to SDG&E's total renewable
energy portfolio and help to secure the utility's plans for a "greener"
electric future for its customers.
"The Naturener Glacier Wind Energy agreements bring us closer to our goal of
acquiring 20-percent of our energy portfolio from clean, green sources of
energy," said Debra L. Reed, president and chief executive officer of SDG&E.
"Adding renewable energy is a critical part of our long-term energy plan for
the region and for our customers."
Every year since 2002, SDG&E has issued market solicitations in pursuit of
renewable energy for the region's power supply.
In response to the utility's 10th renewable Request for Offers (RFO),
SDG&Ealso reported that it has received more than 60 offers for
renewable-energy-supply from the most recent solicitation that closed
April30, 2008. The 6,000 MW proposed represent a mixture of renewable energy
technologies, with solar bidders forming the largest segment. Projects
originate
from a wide geographical area, including within SDG&E's own service
territory, elsewhere in California, and from other states, such as Arizona,
Nevada and Baja California. By far, the greatest number of proposed
renewable projects originates in inland areas east of San Diego -- where
renewable energy delivery will be enhanced by the addition of the Sunrise
Powerlink.
Today, 6 percent of SDG&E's energy-resource mix comes from renewable
resources such
as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal. In addition to the utility's
existing renewable portfolio, SDG&E has contracted for significant renewable
energy supplies that will come online in the next few years and help meet the
state's clean energy goals. The Naturener wind contract alone will increase
SDG&E's renewable energy supply by nearly 4 percent in 2010 and beyond.
SDG&E will work with bidders over the following months to execute contracts.
Naturener is a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Naturener S.A., a
renewableenergy company based in Madrid, Spain. The company entered the U. S.
market
in 2006 and has approximately 1,500 MW of wind energy projects in operation
or development in Alberta, Canada and the United States.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy
service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more
than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The
utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a
priority
of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a
subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services
holding company based in San Diego.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Briscoe
Sempra Energy
(877) 866-2066
www.sempra.com
Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
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