PG&E Adds More Geothermal Energy to Renewable Energy Mix

The project will deliver 25.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy for PG&E's customers throughout Northern and Central California starting in 2010.

"The timing of our project could not be better as it responds directly to California's legislated Renewable Portfolio Standard Program (RPS) requiring State utilities, including PG&E, to purchase at least 20% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2010," said Kenneth MacLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western GeoPower.

In addition to the ongoing 2006 solicitation, PG&E is also in the early stages of its 2007 RPS solicitation, seeking to procure an additional 1-2 percent of its customers' electricity needs through the 2007 renewable energy solicitation process.

The 2007 RPS solicitation is PG&E's fifth competitive solicitation for renewable energy since 2002. Since then, it has entered into contracts for approximately 1100 MW of renewable power from wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydro resources.

Geothermal energy accounts for four percent of PG&E's overall energy mix. PG&E supplies 13 percent of its energy from qualifying renewable sources under California's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Renewable sources in PG&E's portfolio include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and small hydroelectric. More than 50 percent of the electricity that PG&E already delivers to its customers comes from generating resources that emit no or low carbon dioxide.