Pacific Gas and Electric Honored by Solar Electric Power Association as the solar role model for utilities around the world
San Franscisco, CA, Sept. 25, 2007
Source: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, press release
http://www.pge.com/news/news_releases/q3_2007/070925.html
Continuing its position as the leading solar utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Company today received the Solar Portfolio Leadership award from SEPA. This is the third time in as many years that PG&E has been awarded a Solar Business Achievement award from SEPA. The first two years the award came in the category of public awareness and industry leadership. This is the first time SEPA has honored any company with the Solar Portfolio Leadership award.
“PG&E has been a recognized leader in the solar area for a number of years for various activities and programs, but this year is being recognized for its comprehensive solar portfolio,” said Julia Judd Hamm, SEPA executive director. “During the call for nominations there was no category listed for Solar Portfolio Leadership award. But when the executive committee was discussing the applications, they unanimously agreed that PG&E deserved an all-encompassing award for the company’s outstanding leadership in so many areas having to do with solar. PG&E serves as the ultimate role model for other utilities.”
“Solar energy provides PG&E’s customers with a great source of clean, renewable power and a means to manage their energy bills,” said Jan Berman, Senior Director of Customer Generation and Emerging Products for PG&E. “We are honored to be recognized for our efforts in responding to our customers’ wishes, while helping to protect the environment.”
PG&E has interconnected more than 18,000 customers with solar generating systems to the power grid—representing more than 153 megawatts and more than any other utility in the nation. PG&E has also provided nearly $200 million in rebates through the utility’s Self-Generation Incentive Program, which helps offset the cost of installing solar and other forms of clean, on-site generation such as wind and fuel cells.
A leader in clean energy, PG&E is aggressively pursuing renewable energy contracts. Recently the company signed three contracts for utility scale solar. The first with Solel of Israel will cover 9 square miles, deliver 553 MW of clean, renewable energy, and currently represents the world’s single largest solar commitment. PG&E also signed contracts for an additional 7 MW from two new developers of utility scale photovoltaic technology – Cleantech America LLC and GreenVolts.
Since 2004, the PG&E Solar Schools Program has been awarding underserved schools in northern and central California with a free 1.3-kW solar energy installation. The program also trains teachers to deliver a solar sciences curriculum, and provide grants to support solar projects in the classroom. In 2007, PG&E will invest $2.5 million in the Solar Schools program, bringing the number of schools participating to 100.
The PG&E Solar Habitat Program is a partnership between PG&E and Habitat for Humanity International and local chapters. The program funds solar electric systems on Habitat homes in northern and central California and brings money-saving solar technology and energy efficiency resources to families with limited incomes. PG&E recently announced a $1.2 million program to install solar systems on all of the Habitat Homes in Northern and Central California built in 2007.
The SEPA Solar Business Achievement Award is the latest in a long and distinguished history of recognition for PG&E’s environmental programs. With more than 140 environmental honors in total, the company has also recently been recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council for its environmental leadership, and won the Pacific Forest Trust Award in Climate Protection and Forest Management Leadership, and two Governors Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards.