PG&E Cleared to Add New Renewable Geothermal Energy

The contract to deliver geothermal energy is with the Military Pass Road-Newberry (Vulcan) Geothermal generating facility located in Newberry, Oregon.

"The geothermal power from the Vulcan project further enhances PG&E's diverse supply of clean, renewable energy," said Fong Wan, vice president of energy procurement at PG&E, "and will help ensure that PG&E continues to have one of the lowest rates of air emissions in the country."

PG&E currently supplies 12% of its customer load from renewable resources that qualify under California's RPS Program. In total, about 50% of the power that PG&E delivers to its customers comes from generating resources that emit no carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to global warming. Since PG&E began its RPS Program, it has entered into contracts for nearly 1,100-megawatts of renewable energy -- wind, geothermal, biomass and hydro resources.

"The commission's quick approval demonstrates a shared dedication toward accelerating our reliance on renewable power toward the goal of 20 percent by 2010," said Fong Wan.