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ICE Cold Storage Building Combines Energy Efficiency With SunPower Solar System to Reduce Energy Costs by More Than 75 Percent

Posted on: Thursday, 19 March 2009, 07:00 CDT

Pioneering Collaboration Allows SDG&E and ICE to Share Benefit of Solar Power System; SDG&E Awards More Than $225,000 in Incentives

SAN DIEGO, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a dedication ceremony today, Hamann Construction, Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises, Inc. (ICE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, are celebrating the completion of ICE II, ICE's new 134,511-square-foot cold storage building. ICE expects to achieve more than 75 percent reduction in energy costs at the facility as a result of the energy efficient design and a 1.1-megawatt high-efficiency SunPower solar power system.

"Expanding the operations of ICE, this new building will store four times as much product as the original plant while using half the power - and the SunPower solar system on the roof will generate the equivalent of 72 percent of the energy used by the facility," said Gregg Hamann, vice president of Hamann Construction, designers and builders of the project. "The 'cool roof,' designed to maximize insulation, would have been jeopardized by a solar system that required roof penetration for installation. The SunPower PowerGuard(R) non-penetrating rooftop system was perfect because it maintains the integrity of the insulated roof, installs quickly, and provides additional insulation and protection."

Financing for the solar power system was shared equally by Innovative Oil and Gas, a Hamann entity, and SDG&E. Accordingly, each owns half of the solar power system and the renewable energy credits associated with it.

SDG&E collaborated with Hamann as part of its Sustainable Communities Program, which sponsors green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. SDG&E has completed 11 projects under the program, including four projects with a combined one megawatt of SDG&E-owned renewable power generating resources. SDG&E awarded Hamann and ICE over $225,000 in incentive funding for the energy efficient features and advanced technology included in the design of the building.

"We congratulate ICE for taking advantage of the California Solar Initiative and the federal tax incentive to finance their half of this project," said Hal Snyder, vice president of customer solutions for SDG&E. "This truly is a community project because half of the solar power from this roof will go right to the grid for the benefit of our local customers, while $225,000 in incentives were awarded to ICE and Hamann Construction for building a more sustainable facility that delivers long-term benefits."

"Under its Sustainable Communities Program, SDG&E is one of the first utilities in the nation to invest directly in distributed solar power systems. SDG&E's ownership of half of the solar system on ICE's new LEED-certified building will generate clean, renewable solar power for SDG&E's customers," said SunPower Chief Executive Officer Tom Werner. "We applaud the vision of all partners on this project, and their efforts to ensure the reliable, cost-effective delivery of solar power today."

SunPower designed and installed a system that utilizes SunPower solar panels, the most efficient on the market today. Using conversion formulas provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the system is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 1.5 million pounds annually, which is the equivalent to the emissions generated from 3900 cars over the expected 30-year lifetime of the system.

In addition, Hamann Construction designed and built the facility to include:

• High-efficiency ammonia refrigeration
• Motion detector controlled LED lighting
• Ten 1-kilowatt wind turbines
• Rechargeable forklifts
• Extremely narrow aisle racking
• Rainwater collection systems to achieve exceptional water savings

Based on the energy efficient features and solar power system, Hamann expects the facility to attain gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. LEED certified buildings are designed to standards of sustainability and energy efficiency beyond typical building codes.

About Hamann Companies

Hamann Companies, located in El Cajon, Calif., prides itself on over 50 years of achievement across a broad spectrum of interests ranging from: Industrial Park Development, Concrete Commercial Building Construction, LEED Building Projects, Cold Storage, Management of Industrial and Commercial Income Properties, Tenant Improvement Construction, Commercial Electrical Contracting and Commercial Real Estate Brokerage. Hamann Construction has built hundreds of concrete tilt-up and block building projects ranging in size from 5,000 square feet to over 250,000 square feet. A unique feature of Hamann Construction is that Hamann is comprised of its own electrical department, concrete crew, architect and LEED AP. Hamann Construction specializes in "Team Concept Construction," where the architect, engineer, contractor and owner work together closely to create a tailored cost-effective product.

About SunPower

SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and delivers high-performance solar electric systems worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. SunPower high-efficiency solar cells and solar panels generate up to 50 percent more power than conventional solar technologies and have a uniquely attractive, all-black appearance. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

About San Diego Gas & Electric

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. For information on state and federal rebates or tax incentives visit www.sdge.com or call 800-411-7343.

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 "to reduce," "expects," "will," and "expected," to identify forward-looking statements in this press release, including forward-looking statements regarding: (a) energy efficiency and the SunPower system reducing energy costs by more than 75 percent; (b) ICE achieving more than 75 percent reduction in energy costs; (c) the SunPower system generating the equivalent of 72 percent of the energy used by the facility; (d) half of the solar power from the roof going right to the grid; and (e) the SunPower system reducing carbon dioxide emissions by almost 1.5 million pounds annually, which is the equivalent to the emissions generated from 3900 cars over the expected 30-year lifetime of the system. 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 SunPower's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties such as: (i) actual electricity generation; (ii) the actual energy consumption rate; (iii) unexpected changes in utility service rates; (iv) variations in carbon dioxide emissions reductions; and (v) other risks described in SunPower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2008, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing SunPower's 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.

SunPower is a registered trademark of SunPower Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE SunPower Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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