Fresno Famous

FRESNO - Cleantech America, LLC., today announced that it has entered into a long term power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric Company to provide emission-free peak solar power from what will be California's largest solar facility and the third largest in the nation.

Named CalRENEW-1, the facility will provide up to 5 megawatts of clean, reliable peak solar energy to PG&E customers throughout northern and central California when it is completed in 2009.

"The San Joaquin Valley applauds PG&E's leadership in pursuing our state's renewable energy and climate goals with environmentally clean solar power. We are particularly pleased with the proposed CalRENEW-1 project to be installed and operated by Cleantech America in Fresno County The triple benefits of such projects to air quality, energy self-sufficiency and job creation are a blessing for the Valley ," said Fresno Mayor Alan Autry.

Located near PG&E's Mendota substation in Fresno County, CalRENEW-1 will cover approximately 40 acres and will serve as a peak solar facility, providing reliable zero-emission energy when it is most needed - at the hottest times of the day during the hottest months.

"We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with PG&E," said Bill Barnes, CEO of Cleantech America, LLC. "Providing zero-emission green energy in San Joaquin Valley, an area long suffering from some of the worst air quality and highest levels of associated health problems, makes good social, economic and environmental sense. This is the true potential of green photovoltaic solar energy."

"The Central Valley is ideal for solar power," Barnes said. "It has great sun characteristics, and the economic development potential is enormous. We have already seen strong indications that utility scale solar projects like CalRENEW-1 will attract renewable energy manufacturing, R&D and related jobs-creating industry. We are currently negotiating for substantially larger projects, which will potentially be announced in the near future."

CalRENEW-1 will utilize a variety of exciting photovoltaic technologies. It will be designed, built and operated by Cleantech America's enterprise partner, the California Construction Authority (CCA), a California Joint Powers Authority which has 6 megawatts of photovoltaic solar in operation and another 2 MW in development, including the nearly completed, state-of-the-art 800 Kv solar installation at the Big Fresno Fair.

Cleantech America LLC., is a San Francisco, CA-based developer of utility-scale, environmentally clean solar farms. Our mission is commercializing photovoltaic solar technology for global warming solutions and energy independence. Our principal business is generating photovoltaic peak electricity free of green house gases for sale to utilities, municipalities and other customers.

For more information visit http://cleantechamerica.com

Coverage in Fresno Bee: http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/71675.html