Nevada Officials, Sempra Generation Dedicate Largest U.S. Photovoltaic Solar Plant

SAN DIEGO, March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, Boulder City Mayor Roger Tobler, Jeff Martin, president and chief executive officer of Sempra Generation, and other dignitaries were on hand today in southern Nevada to officially dedicate Sempra Generation's Copper Mountain Solar, the largest photovoltaic solar plant in the U.S.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110125/MM36244LOGO)

The 48-megawatt (MW) project is located adjacent to Sempra Generation's 10-MW El Dorado Solar installation in Boulder City, Nev., about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

In his comments, Governor Sandoval praised Sempra Generation for its commitment to Nevada and for creating hundreds of local construction jobs to build the solar facility.  He also expressed strong support for the company's plan, which was recently approved by Boulder City, to expand the Copper Mountain Solar complex by more than 200 MW because of the benefits alternative energy projects bring to the state and local economy.

"This project exemplifies my goal of making Nevada the renewable energy capital of the country. Projects of this magnitude provide hundreds of jobs and invest millions of dollars in our state," said Governor Sandoval.

Recently named "Solar Project of the Year" by Renewable Energy World as part of the 2011 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards, Copper Mountain Solar was selected from hundreds of nominations in the category.

Construction on Copper Mountain Solar began in January 2010 at the 380-acre desert site.  Nearly 775,000 thin-film photovoltaic solar panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, were installed. The award-winning solar facility is now generating enough emission-free electricity to power about 14,000 average homes.  

"Copper Mountain Solar represents Sempra Generation's commitment to developing world-class alternative energy projects that generate a new source of clean power and create jobs," said Jeffrey W. Martin, president and chief executive officer of Sempra Generation.  "But the success of Copper Mountain Solar can be directly attributed to the vision and support of Boulder City, Pacific Gas & Electric and many state and federal officials in Nevada.  Their leadership is accelerating our country's transition to a more sustainable energy future."

The power from Copper Mountain Solar and El Dorado Solar has been sold to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) under separate 20-year contracts.  

Sempra Generation operates and maintains a fleet of clean, efficient natural gas-fueled power plants and is a leading developer of solar and wind facilities that serve U.S. markets.  Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2010 revenues of $9 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 13,500 employees serve about 25 million consumers worldwide.

This press release contains statements that are not historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "potential," "target," "depends," or similar expressions, or discussions of strategies, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others: local, regional, national and international economic, competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and developments; actions by the California Public Utilities Commission, California State Legislature, California Department of Water Resources, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Reserve Board, and other regulatory and governmental bodies in the United States and other countries where the company does business; capital market conditions and inflation, interest and exchange rates; energy markets, including the timing and extent of changes and volatility in commodity prices; the availability of electric power, natural gas and liquefied natural gas; weather conditions and conservation efforts; war and terrorist attacks; business, regulatory, environmental and legal decisions and requirements; the status of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity delivery; the timing and success of business development efforts; the resolution of litigation; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the company. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that Sempra Energy has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on the company's website at www.sempra.com.

The Copper Mountain Solar facility is owned and operated by Copper Mountain Solar I, LLC; the El Dorado Solar plant is owned and operated by El Dorado Energy, LLC.

Sempra Generation is not the same company as the utility, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) or Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), and Sempra Generation is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.

www.semprageneration.com

SOURCE Sempra Generation