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Constellation NewEnergy Signs Long-Term Agreement With the City of Brockton, Mass., To Purchase Solar Energy From New 'Brightfield' Project

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

BALTIMORE, June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Energy today announced that its subsidiary, Constellation NewEnergy, has won a long-term contract with the City of Brockton, Mass., in which the company will purchase all of the output from the City's new solar energy power plant.

The agreement - one of several new contracts that Constellation NewEnergy has entered into for renewable generation projects - displays the growing demand for alternative energy sources and the heightened awareness around environmentally responsible power. Brockton's solar project is located on a former brownfields site, now appropriately called a "Brightfield" area. The project will be the first utility scale solar photovoltaic system in New England. Designed to produce 425 kilowatts of electricity, the Brightfield site will generate enough energy per year to power City Hall and a portion of the police station's load.

"This effort demonstrates Brockton's desire to create reliable alternative energy sources at a time when many policymakers recognize the need for a diverse mix of energy resources," said Bruce McLeish, senior director of wholesale origination at Constellation NewEnergy. "The agreement to purchase all of the power and RECs from the Brightfield site in Brockton shows that solar power is a viable energy source with an increased demand from our New England consumers. This project reaffirms Constellation NewEnergy's commitment to increasing the supply and usage of alternative clean energy for our customers."

Construction of the Brockton Brightfield site commenced on May 1, 2006. The proposed design incorporates the solar panel array into a park setting that will also feature educational displays and activities. Using electricity generated by Brockton's Brightfield will avoid the emission of about 595,300 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. That is the equivalent of taking 45 cars off the road, or the amount of carbon dioxide that would be absorbed by planting 89 acres of trees. The Brightfield project will also eliminate nearly 1,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 370 pounds of nitrogen oxide each year.

"The City of Brockton is committed to revitalizing once idle brownfields sites, thus ensuring the cleanup of the local neighborhood and promoting renewable energy in the process," said James E. Harrington, Mayor of Brockton. "We selected Constellation NewEnergy over other suppliers as we were not only impressed with its shared commitment to our vision, but it also offered a long-term contract at a competitive price. This long-term contract was necessary for Brockton to secure financing, and Constellation NewEnergy met our needs." Brockton and Constellation NewEnergy have a dual relationship - the City has purchased its electricity supply from Constellation NewEnergy since 2002 and recently signed a new contract extending that relationship.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided grant funds that helped the City to market the project output. Also instrumental in the development of the Brockton Brightfield project are funding partners at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, which seeks to promote the economic growth and development of renewable power sources in Massachusetts, and the U.S. Department of Energy, which developed the Brightfield concept. Global Solar Energy, Inc. has been contracted to design, install and operate the photovoltaic system. The solar panels in use will be purchased from Billerica-based SCHOTT Solar, Inc.

The plant is being constructed on the property of Bay State Gas Company, former site of Brockton Gas Works. Bay State Gas Company is leasing the land to the City of Brockton for a period of 30 years and has played an active role in the cleanup and transformation of the new Brightfield site.

Constellation NewEnergy (http://www.newenergy.com/), a member of Constellation Energy , is a leading competitive supplier of electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to commercial and industrial customers throughout North America. Constellation NewEnergy operates in all competitive energy markets throughout Canada and the United States, providing products that enable customers to effectively manage and control energy costs. Constellation NewEnergy's regional expertise, coupled with its national presence, provides customers with customized energy products and services while leveraging the assets of one of the strongest integrated energy companies in North America. Constellation NewEnergy, based in Baltimore, serves more than 10,000 commercial and industrial customers throughout 31 states and 3 Canadian provinces representing more than 15,000 megawatts of peak load and more than 300 billion cubic feet of annual natural gas consumption.

Constellation Energy (http://www.constellation.com/), a FORTUNE 200 company with 2005 revenues of $17.1 billion, is the nation's largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation's largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of more than 100 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.

Constellation Energy

CONTACT: Debra Beck, Constellation Energy, +1-410-234-7433

Web site: http://www.constellation.com/http://www.newenergy.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/084087.html

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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