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EI Solutions Powers on the Largest Solar Facility in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on: Wednesday, 31 October 2007, 15:00 CDT

EI Solutions, the systems integration arm of Energy Innovations, Inc., today announced that it has recently completed construction on the main portion of the Pacific Northwest's largest solar-powered generating facility for Puget Sound Energy, a utility subsidiary of Puget Energy (NYSE:PSD). The 2,408 newly installed solar panels can now generate up to 450 kilowatts (kw) of power.

The new solar-powered generating facility is located adjacent to the utility's Wild Horse wind-power facility in central Washington. The installation will be the first to use solar panels manufactured in Washington State. Silicon Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of OutBack Power Systems of Arlington, Wash., is providing ten percent of the panels for PSE's solar project that are expected to be installed in the first half of 2008, completing the 500 kw project.

"Puget Sound Energy's leadership in renewable energy is a great example for utilities across the country," said Andrew Beebe, president of EI Solutions. "By integrating solar into its already substantial wind development, PSE has shown the value of a portfolio approach to providing clean, renewable sources of energy to its customers."

The $4 million Wild Horse solar project will incorporate more than 2,700 photovoltaic solar panels, mounted in two separate locations across five acres. EI Solutions began construction of the solar project in June of this year. When generating at full capacity, the solar facility will produce enough power to meet the energy demand of about 300 households.

PSE's 9,000-acre Wild Horse wind-power facility, located about 125 miles southeast of Seattle, is one of the few locations in the United States where utility-scale wind- and solar-powered electricity generation occur side-by-side. The solar-power facility will complement the wind-power facility by providing peak power during daylight hours and in the summer whereas the Wild Horse wind facility generates its maximum power during the evenings and in the fall through spring seasons when the wind is the strongest.

"We're extremely pleased to have EI Solutions working with us on this project," said Stephen P. Reynolds, chairman, president and CEO for Puget Sound Energy. "With their expertise, we plan to demonstrate that solar power can play an important role in meeting our region's energy needs in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way."

About EI Solutions

EI Solutions is one of California's fastest-growing providers of commercial and utility-scale solar power systems. The company has completed projects for a wide variety of public agencies and private companies including the largest solar installation on a US corporate campus, a 1.6 megawatt system on Google's Mountain View headquarters. EI Solutions' headquarters are in San Rafael, California, where all engineering, project management, finance and administrative functions are based. EI Solutions also operates a sales and marketing office in Pasadena, California, at the home of its parent company, Energy Innovations. Energy Innovations, an Idealab company, is developing the world's first rooftop tracking solar concentrator, designed to drive down the long-term cost of solar energy below the price of utility-supplied electricity. More information can be found at www.eispv.com or by calling 800.237.0916.

Source: Business Wire

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