Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Celebrates Progress of Sempra Generation Solar Plant

ARLINGTON, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today joined community leaders and executives from Sempra Generation, a leading solar developer and subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), Zachry Holdings, Inc., a leading U.S. EPC firm, and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels, to celebrate the ongoing construction of Mesquite Solar 1.

"In order to advance Arizona's economy, it's essential that we attract the industries of the future," said Governor Jan Brewer. "The Mesquite Solar complex represents clean energy and quality jobs. I look forward to Sempra Generation's continued growth and success in Arizona."

The event also commemorated the first shipment of solar panels from Suntech's 117,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Goodyear, Ariz. to the construction site. Upon completion in 2013, the 150-megawatt (MW) Mesquite Solar 1 plant will feature more than 800,000 Suntech solar panels, with a portion of them manufactured in Arizona.

Developed by Sempra Generation, Mesquite Solar 1 will generate enough clean electricity for about 56,000 homes. As announced earlier this year, the power from the project has been sold under a 20-year agreement to California's Pacific Gas & Electric. At full build-out, the Mesquite Solar complex could grow to about 700 MW.

"We are pleased to be joined by Governor Brewer and the local community to celebrate the construction progress that's being made here at the Mesquite Solar complex," said Jeffrey W. Martin, president and chief executive officer of Sempra Generation. "Because of the leadership of Governor Brewer and other policy-makers in the state, this solar project has created hundreds of new construction jobs while supporting an expanded manufacturing base in Arizona. Mesquite Solar 1 is a giant step forward for our company, and it's having an even more significant impact on the local economy."

With decades of experience in power plant construction, Zachry is responsible for the engineering and construction of Mesquite Solar 1.

"We are excited to partner with Sempra and Suntech to build one of the largest solar plants in the world," said Steve Dedman, senior vice president with Zachry. "We are nearly complete with the design and procurement of materials, and are off to a good start on the construction effort. Many of our materials and supplies have been purchased from businesses in the local region. We have established a local employment office in Buckeye and are expecting a field workforce of several hundred employees at peak."

Since opening in October 2010, Suntech's Goodyear manufacturing facility has grown steadily, and now employs more than 100 professionals producing about 50 MW (DC) of solar panels each year. Over the next year, about one out of every three panels produced at Suntech's Goodyear facility will be sent to the nearby Mesquite Solar 1 plant.

"It's great to see thousands of panels coming off our lines and being installed right here in Arizona," said John Lefebvre, president of Suntech America. "A skilled workforce and supportive business climate made Arizona a natural fit for Suntech's first U.S. manufacturing facility. Arizona is well-positioned as a global hub in the growing clean energy economy."

About Sempra Generation

Sempra Generation operates and maintains natural gas-fueled power plants, and is a leading developer of solar and wind facilities that serve U.S. markets. Sempra EnergyNYSE: SRE), based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2010 revenues of $9 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' nearly 17,500 employees serve about 31 million consumers worldwide.

About Suntech

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) produces industry-leading solar products for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility applications. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland, and the United States, and gigawatt-scale manufacturing worldwide, Suntech has delivered more than 20,000,000 photovoltaic panels to thousands of customers in more than eighty countries. Suntech's pioneering R&D creates customer-centric innovations that are driving solar to grid parity against fossil fuels.

Suntech's mission is to provide everyone with reliable access to nature's cleanest and most abundant energy source. For more information about our people and products visit: http://www.suntech-power.com

About Zachry Holdings, Inc.

Zachry Holdings, Inc. is a privately held business engaged primarily in the engineering, construction, and maintenance of large industrial projects and facilities in the U. S. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the company participates in a wide range of the energy sector including traditional and renewable power, petrochemical, refining, forest products, and nuclear. Zachry has offices throughout the U.S. and safely employees more than 15,000 craft and professional staff. Visit www.zhi.com for more information.

For Sempra Energy Investors

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.

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.

For Suntech Investors

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements, and includes the delivery of solar panels and the economic impact of the project. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Suntech's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Suntech does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

Media Contacts:

Scott Crider
Sempra Generation
(877) 855-7887
www.semprageneration.com    

Walker Frost
Suntech
(415) 268-8881  
[email protected]

Cathy Green
Zachry Holdings, Inc.
(210) 588-6578
[email protected]

Financial Contact:

Scott Tomayko/Victor Vilaplana
Sempra Energy
(877) 736-7727
[email protected]

SOURCE Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.