LOS ANGELES, March 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) presented a $3.4 million incentive check today to Peninsula Packaging for installing a flotilla of 4,000 solar panels on 10 acres at the Exeter facility site, creating a virtual solar farm power plant.
The installed solar farm is a silent, non-polluting 1-megawatt power plant that helps the manufacturer of food and industrial packaging products reduce future increases in energy costs. Photovoltaic solar power technology uses solar cell panels that follow the sun's movement during the day to convert energy from the sun into electricity. The system generates enough electricity to power 800 homes. The $7 million project will utilize environmentally friendly technology to create a reliable source of electricity, while reducing annual energy costs.
"Since 2001, The Gas Company has awarded more than $47 million to customers installing electric-generation systems, providing the state with 56 megawatts of much-needed generation - enough to power about 45,000 homes," said Rick Morrow, vice president of customer services for The Gas Company. "We are committed to help California move toward a cleaner energy future and to help reduce the costs of self-generation technologies for California consumers."
Exeter-based Peninsula Packaging, a manufacturer of food and industrial packaging products, qualified for the award by participating in the Self-Generation Incentive Program, a state-sponsored program that provides financial incentives to government and businesses for generating their own electricity on-site.
The California Public Utilities Commission launched the Self-Generation Incentive Program in 2001 in response to California's electricity crisis. The program provides qualifying businesses with incentives to help offset the costs of buying and installing electric-generating systems.
As part of its commitment to exceptional customer service, The Gas Company supports this program through marketing, customer assistance and other administration activities throughout its service territory, which covers almost all of Southern California.
For more information on the Self-Generation Incentive Program, customers can visit The Gas Company's Web site at www.socalgas.com/business/selfgen.
The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million meters. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California. The Gas Company strives to provide exceptional customer service to enhance the quality of life in the community. The Gas Company is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2006 revenues of nearly $12 billion.