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PG&E to Fund $1.7 Million in Grants to Public Schools in Northern and Central California

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 18:00 CST

SAN FRANCISCO, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced it will be providing $1.7 million in 2006 to promote and expand learning around solar power in California public schools, through its Solar Schools Program. Today marks the opening of the application period for the 2006 Solar Schools Program, which will assist public schools serving low-income students and communities of color with solar energy systems, specialized solar science curricula, training for teachers, and cash grants for innovative science projects.

"The Solar Schools Program is one of the ways PG&E is planning for the future of California's energy needs; it inspires school children to learn about solar science and brings together the company's commitment to renewable energy, energy efficiency and education in a way that benefits students and the community for years to come," said Ophelia Basgal, PG&E vice president of community partnership and civic initiatives.

Teachers and administrators from eligible schools within PG&E's service area in northern and central California may apply for grants to support their involvement in the following areas:

-- Installation of a $20,000 solar photovoltaic system for the school's educational use. Up to 30 schools will receive the donation and free installation of a new 1.3 kilowatt photovoltaic system that converts sunlight into electric power. Included in the package is an online monitoring tool that provides real-time data on the system's activity and allows students to compare their system's activity with that of other Solar Schools. The package also funds grade-specific curriculum materials, which help local schools meet statewide testing standards and bring the latest solar technology right into the classroom through lesson plans and solar-powered science projects.

-- Solar-based curriculum training package. Over 600 teachers will be selected to attend science curriculum training seminars and receive specialized classroom material.

-- "Bright Ideas" grants. PG&E will award up to $200,000 in cash grants of $2,500 and $5,000 to schools for innovative solar science projects.

Schools are welcome to apply for both a solar installation grant and a "Bright Ideas" grant. Teachers associated with either program element will be invited to attend training workshops.

"This is a wonderful gift from PG&E. The Solar Schools Program is an invaluable way to incorporate science into the classroom and teach our future leaders about alternative and renewable energy," said Michael Lugo, 5th grade teacher at Westmore Oaks Elementary School in West Sacramento. Westmore Oaks received a 2004 Solar Schools Program grant. "The students really have fun learning because they learn by doing exciting hand-on projects."

PG&E is partnering with leaders in the education sector and the solar industry to deliver the training and infrastructure associated with this program. The National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) manages curriculum training and administration of the "Bright Ideas" grants; the Foundation for Environmental Education coordinates installation of the donated photovoltaic systems.

For more information and to apply online for a PG&E Solar Schools Program grant, visit http://www.pge.com/solarschools. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2006.

In 2005, PG&E's Solar Schools program provided over $1 million to fund the installation of photovoltaic systems at 20 public schools, 25 "Bright Ideas" science projects and curriculum training for over 400 teachers throughout the PG&E service area. PG&E funded the installation of 10 photovoltaic systems as part of the Solar Schools Program pilot project in 2004.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company has a long history of making charitable grants tailored to the needs of the wide variety of communities it serves. The company's charitable contributions program provides cash grants, in-kind contributions, and volunteers for community-based nonprofit organizations, schools and other governmental programs throughout northern and central California. All charitable contributions are entirely funded by the company's shareholders and do not affect customer rates for electricity or gas.

For more information about Pacific Gas and Electric Company's charitable contributions program, visit http://www.pge.com/giving.

For more information about NEED, visit http://www.need.org/.

For more information on the Foundation for Environmental Education, visit http://www.learnenergy.org/.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

CONTACT: News Department, +1-415-973-5930

Web site: http://www.pge.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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