SAN DIEGO, June 11, 2009 –  The Campo Band of Mission Indians of the Kumeyaay Nation, Invenergy and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today jointly announced a plan to build a wind energy project capable of generating up to 160 megawatts (MW) of renewable power.

        The three parties signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of a wind project on tribal land that could offset as much as 57.6 million pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions annually.  The project will be the tribe’s second wind generation facility, further establishing the Campo Band as a leading tribal developer of renewable energy in the country and the East County San Diego region as a national model for harnessing renewable resources.

        “Development of this project will expand the Campo tribe’s leadership as the largest producer of clean, renewable wind energy on Indian lands in the United States,” said Monique La Chappa, Campo Chairwoman.  “We are excited to be working with Invenergy and San Diego Gas & Electric to bring this project to reality for the benefit of our tribal members and residents of San Diego County.”

        U.S. Secretary of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar recently touted wind power’s potential on tribal lands, stating that Indian country offers some of the premier wind energy sites in the United States. 

        The project will help create a more diverse, sustainable economy and contribute revenue to essential governmental services for the Campo Band.  During construction, the project will employ approximately 150 workers from various construction trades.  Upon completion, 10-12 full time staff will be needed to operate and maintain the wind farm.

        “This project represents the tip of the iceberg for renewable energy development in eastern San Diego County, which will spark creation of new green-collar jobs,” said Chairwoman La Chappa.

        The project is being developed by Invenergy LLC, one of the top wind development companies in North America that currently operates 2,000 MW of wind power.

        “We are very proud and excited to be working with the only tribe in the nation that currently operates a wind farm development on tribal land,” said Mick Baird Invenergy’s vice president of development for the region. “Invenergy will continue to work with the San Diego community in educating the region about the benefits of wind development and the benefits of renewable projects for our environment.”

        To meet the growing market for renewable energy projects in the East County, SDG&E also is planning a number of infrastructure enhancements projects that will help deliver renewable power into the grid while enhancing energy reliability for local residents and customers.

        “This agreement is a significant step forward in our goal of achieving 33 percent of power deliveries from renewable resources by 2020,” said Debra L. Reed, president and chief executive officer of San Diego Gas & Electric.  “This partnership is a great example of how we can deliver the benefits of these renewable resources to our customers.”

        The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has identified portions of eastern San Diego County, Imperial County and the northern Baja California region as some of the top locations in the country to generate electricity from renewable resources including the sun, wind and geothermal steam heat. 

        “SDG&E’s vision for East County includes investment in renewable energy projects that make sense from an economic and environmental standpoint, combined with the development of critical infrastructure to deliver that power to our customers,” said Reed.

        Over the next year, Muht-Hei, Inc., the Campo development corporation, in conjunction with the Campo Band Executive Committee, Campo Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will finalize the terms of the agreements with Invenergy and SDG&E.  Project developers will complete pre-development siting analyses, placement of testing towers to evaluate wind potential and fulfill environmental clearances prior to construction.  The project is expected to commence commercial operation in 2012.

###

        About the Campo Band of Mission Indians of the Kumeyaay Nation
        The Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a sovereign Indian tribe possessing the powers of self-government, resides on the Campo Reservation in Campo, California.  The Band is governed by a duly elected, seven-member Executive Committee,  a federally-recognized Indian tribal government, responsible for administering governmental programs and services to Band members, including:   health and elder care, education, housing, utility assistance, environmental protection, cultural preservation, safety and emergency services.   The Band is the largest employer in the Reservation area, with a work force of over 500 people.   The Band strives to collaborate with local and regional organizations and governments to address areas of mutual concern such as the quality of education, the environment, public safety, economic development and planning and land use.

        About Invenergy Wind LLC
        Invenergy is a privately held developer, owner and operator of large-scale electricity generation assets in North America and Europe. The company has active developments in more than twenty states in the U.S. along with development programs in Canada and Europe. Invenergy primarily originates and develops its own wind projects from concept through completion and long-term operation. With this long-term perspective, Invenergy takes a proactive approach to building strong relationships with various project stakeholders including landowners, host communities and power purchase clients.

        About SDG&E
        SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.  The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles.  Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region’s quality of life.  SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.