Sempra Generation announces first solar energy project
Upon completion, 10-Megawatt Nevada photovoltaic facility will be largest operational ‘thin-film’ installation in North America

Media Contact:
Art Larson

Financial Contact:
Glen Donovan

Sempra Energy

Sempra Energy

(877) 866-2066

(877) 736-7727

www.sempra.com

investor@sempra.com

 

        SAN DIEGO, July 24, 2008 – Sempra Generation, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), today announced the development of the company’s first solar energy project, a 10-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power-generation facility adjacent to the company’s existing El Dorado Energy power plant near Boulder City, Nev., about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas.  
 
        When completed later this year, the El Dorado Energy solar project will be the largest operational thin-film, solar-power project in North America.  Arizona-based First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) will be the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project and will monitor and maintain the plant.  

         First Solar’s modules employ an advanced thin-film semiconductor technology to convert sunlight into electricity without air emissions or water use.  The solar modules absorb low light more efficiently than conventional solar panels and convert the sunlight into electricity even in cloudy weather and dawn and dusk conditions.  As a result, First Solar modules will generally produce more electricity under real-world conditions than conventional solar modules with similar power ratings.
 
        “This new solar project is another step in Sempra Generation’s long-range plan to emerge as a leading renewable-energy developer,” said Michael W. Allman, president and chief executive officer of Sempra Generation. “The combination of Sempra Generation’s experience in developing power-generation projects in the region with First Solar’s expertise in advanced, thin-film photovoltaic solutions is a natural fit.  We look forward to helping the region’s utilities meet state requirements calling for them to include solar, wind and other renewable energy sources in their power portfolios. ”
 
        Additional expansion phases of the project are under consideration and Sempra Generation is in the process of enlisting potential customers for the project’s power.
 
        The project will be located on about 80 acres adjacent to El Dorado Energy’s existing 480-MW natural gas-fired power plant.
 
        Unlike some solar power projects, El Dorado Energy’s solar power plant will not use heated water or other liquids in the power-generation process.  As with other solar projects, the new Sempra Generation facility will generate electricity during the day when customer demand typically peaks.
 
        "We are proud and excited to host Sempra Generation’s new solar energy project," said Boulder City Mayor Roger Tobler.  "When Boulder City decided several years ago to allocate roughly 3,000 acres for the development of an Energy Zone, this is exactly the kind of project we anticipated.”
 
 “We are pleased to be working with Sempra Generation on its first large-scale solar power plant,” said Mike Ahearn, chief executive officer of First Solar.  “By making this commitment to develop regional renewable electric generation, Sempra Generation is moving us closer to our collective climate protection goals.”
 
        Formed in 1999, First Solar is a worldwide industry leader in thin-film photovoltaic solar-module manufacturing with 2007 revenues of more than $500 million.
 
        Sempra Generation operates and maintains a fleet of power plants serving the U.S. market and is in the process of developing a solar and wind power projects in the Pacific Southwest.  Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2007 revenues of more than $11 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies’ 13,500 employees serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.

###


This press release contains statements that are not historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  When the company uses words like “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “may,” “would,” “should” or similar expressions, or when the company discusses its strategy or plans, the company is making forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance.  They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others: local, regional, national and international economic, competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and developments; actions by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California State Legislature, the California Department of Water Resources, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regulatory bodies in the United States and other countries; capital markets conditions, inflation rates, interest rates and exchange rates; energy and trading markets, including the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices; the availability of natural gas; weather conditions and conservation efforts; war and terrorist attacks; business, regulatory, environmental, and
legal decisions and requirements; the status of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity delivery; the timing and success of business development efforts; the resolution of litigation; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the company.  These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are available through the EDGAR system without charge at its Web site, www.sec.gov and on the company’s Web site, www.sempra.com.

Sempra Generation is not the same company as the utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.