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8-K - LIVE FILING - NRG ENERGY, INC. | htm_39899.htm |
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - NRG ENERGY, INC. | exhibit1.htm |
Exhibit 99.2
NRG Solar and SunPower Agree to Build 250-Megawatt
California Valley Solar Ranch
¾Construction Planned to Begin in 2011¾
PRINCETON, N.J. and SAN JOSE, Calif.; November 30, 2010¾NRG Solar, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) today announced groundbreaking agreements to begin construction next year of the 250-megawatt (MW) California Valley Solar Ranch in San Luis Obispo County. The solar power plant is expected to create approximately 350 jobs during construction, will power about 100,000 homes and will be one of the largest photovoltaic solar power plants in the world, when complete. NRG Solar plans to invest up to $450 million of equity in the project over the next four years, subject to final total project cost and negotiation of the financing terms and conditions.
Under the agreement announced today, NRG will, subject to certain conditions, assume all ownership and financing responsibilities for the California Valley Solar Ranch. SunPower will continue to develop the project, and will design, build, operate and maintain the solar power plant. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2011, with a portion of the project expected to begin operating by the end of 2011 and the balance coming on line in 2012 and 2013. When fully operational, the solar power plant will help California achieve its 33% renewable portfolio standard.
The project is currently seeking a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program Office, which supports accelerated commercial use of innovative energy technologies to help sustain economic growth, yield environmental benefits, and produce a more stable and secure energy supply. The DOE Loan Guarantee Program Office has provided a draft term sheet for the California Valley Solar Ranch project, which is a significant milestone in the process leading to a conditional loan guarantee commitment.
California Valley Solar Ranch will be an important component of our multi-technology portfolio of clean, zero-emission solar power facilities, said Tom Doyle, president of NRG Solar. We are pursuing large-scale photovoltaic projects across the Southwest and working with like-minded companies that can ensure our projects will be exceptionally successful. SunPower has the proven technology and experience building solar power plants around the world to deliver a well-designed solar project that will be a major contributor to helping California meet its ambitious renewable portfolio standard by the end of the decade.
This partnership with NRG Solar and the DOE represents a major milestone in delivering 250 megawatts of clean, renewable solar power to Californias electricity customers, said Howard Wenger, president of the utility and power plants business group at SunPower. For two years, SunPower has been working to develop this project responsibly, with respect for the environment and the community. We are delighted to have found in NRG a partner that shares our vision to build a solar power plant in San Luis Obispo County that enhances the local economy, protects local habitat and generates emission-free solar power for California. The DOE is playing a critical leadership role in supporting renewable energy that provides economic and environmental benefits, as well as a secure, stable energy supply in the U.S.
California Valley Solar Ranch has executed 25-year power purchase agreements with Pacific Gas & Electric for delivery of 250 megawatts. The power purchase agreements have been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. The closing of the NRG and SunPower agreements announced today is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and the completion of development, including obtaining required permitting and regulatory approvals.
By the end of 2010, SunPower will have installed more than 1,500 megawatts of solar power systems worldwide, including 400 megawatts of ground-mounted power plants.
About NRG Solar
NRG Solar is a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 Index company that owns
and operates one of the countrys largest and most diverse power generation portfolios.
Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, the Companys power plants provide nearly 26,000 megawatts of
generation capacityenough to supply nearly 21 million homes. NRGs retail businesses, Reliant
Energy and Green Mountain Energy Company, combined serve more than 1.8 million residential,
business, commercial and industrial customers. With investments in solar, wind and nuclear power,
as well as electric vehicle infrastructure, NRG is working to help America transition to a clean
energy economy. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com.
NRG Solar is responsible for developing, constructing, financing and operating a multi-technology portfolio of solar power assets in North America. NRG owns the largest operating photovoltaic solar project in California, a 21 MW facility in Blythe. The solar power generated at Blythe alone will displace approximately 27,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annuallythe equivalent of taking over 4,800 cars off the road.
NRG Safe Harbor Disclosure
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and include NRGs
expectations regarding the California Sun Valley Ranch solar project and forward-looking statements
typically can be identified by the use of words such as will, expect, believe, and similar
terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that
these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among
others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions,
competition in wholesale power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of
customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power markets, changes in government
regulation of markets and of environmental emissions, the inability to reach final definitive
agreements with SunPower, the inability to develop and maintain successful partnering
relationships, and the receipt of Federal loan guarantees.
NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRGs actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRGs future results included in NRGs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
About SunPower
Founded in 1985, SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and delivers the
planets most powerful solar technology broadly available today. Residential, business, government
and utility customers rely on the companys experience and proven results to maximize return on
investment. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe,
Australia and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.
SunPower Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not represent
historical facts and may be based on underlying assumptions. SunPower uses words and phrases such
as agree to, to begin, expected to, will, plans to, the process leading to, a major
milestone and similar terms to identify forward-looking statements in this press release,
including forward-looking statements regarding (a) the agreements to build the 250 MW California
Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR), (b) the plans to begin construction of CVSR next year, (c) NRG Solars
plan to invest up to $450 million of equity in CVSR, (d) NRGs assumption of ownership and
financing responsibilities for CVSR, (e) SunPowers development, construction and operation of
CVSR, (f) CVSR to begin operating by the end of 2011, and the balance coming on line in 2012 and
2013, (g) CVSRs ability to obtain a conditional DOE loan guarantee commitment, (h) CVSRs
delivering 250MW of solar power, and (i) SunPowers expected installation of 1500 megawatts of
solar power systems worldwide, including 400 megawatts of ground-mounted power plants by the end of
2010. Such forward-looking statements are based on information available to SunPower as of the date
of this release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some beyond SunPowers control,
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these
forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties such as: (i) unanticipated delays or
difficulties securing necessary permits, licenses or other governmental approvals; (ii)
unanticipated delays or difficulties securing necessary land use rights; (iii) construction
difficulties or potential delays in the project implementation process; (iv) availability of debt
or equity financing for CVSR, including NRG Solar reaching an agreement regarding financing terms
for $450 million of equity investment for CVSR ; (v) early termination or failure to meet
conditions precedents in the agreements between NRG and SunPower for the financing, development,
completion and sale of the CVSR project; (vi) inability of SunPower and NRG to reach final
definitive agreements regarding the development and construction of CVSR; (vii) inability of
SunPower and NRG or DOE to maintain a successful partnership relationship; (viii) DOE approval of
the DOE loan guarantee commitment; (ix) the risk of continuation of supply of products and
components from suppliers; (x) unanticipated problems with deploying the systems on sites; (xi)
evolving law including permitting, financing, grid interconnection, technical, and other customer
or regulatory requirements, and SunPowers and NRGs ability to satisfy such requirements; (xii)
general business and economic conditions, and growth trends in the solar power industry; (xiii) the
continuation of governmental and related economic incentives promoting the use of solar power; and
(xiv) other risks described in SunPowers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3,
2010 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 3, 2010, and other filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements should not be relied
upon as representing SunPowers views as of any subsequent date, and SunPower is under no
obligation to, and expressly disclaims any responsibility to, update or alter its
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
NRG Contacts:
Media:
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Investors: | |
Meredith Moore 609.524.4522 |
Nahla Azmy 609.524.4526 |
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David Knox 713.795.6106 |
Stefan Kimball 609.524.4527 |
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Lori Neuman 609.524.4525 |
Erin Gilli 609.524.4528 |
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SunPower Contacts:
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Media:
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Investors: | |
Ingrid Ekstrom 510.260.8368 iekstrom@sunpowercorp.com |
Bob Okunski 408.240.5447 bokunski@sunpowercorp.com |
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