SAN DIEGO, June 5, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) today announced a $500,000 endowment and contribution to the University of California, Davis', Energy Efficiency Center (EEC) dedicated to promoting the EEC and its efforts to implement, inform, encourage and facilitate energy-efficiency solutions within the building, transportation, agriculture and food-production industries.
The contribution to the University of California, Davis, includes the funding of a $400,000 endowment toward the creation of Sempra Energy Chair in Energy Efficiency, one of the first energy-efficiency chairs at a major U.S. university.
The remainder of the contribution provides $100,000 of financial support of the EEC Climate Initiative, a series of research activities and workshops studying the energy-efficiency applications required to implement California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known as AB 32. This initiative includes the participation of the California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF), a non-profit organization that recognizes the success of the state's economic and environmental policies depends on intersecting public and private interests.
"California's initiatives to address global warming, increase energy efficiency and reduce reliance on traditional energy sources have blazed a trail for the rest of the nation to follow," said Donald E. Felsinger, chairman and chief executive officer of Sempra Energy. "The Sempra Energy companies and our customers have been leaders in energy efficiency. We are pleased to support California's initiatives by creating an endowment that stimulates new and innovative energy-efficiency research that will help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and preserve our energy resources."
"Sempra Energy's support will enable the EEC to extend California's leadership in energy and climate policy, technology and education by attracting experts focused on bringing near-term energy efficiency solutions forward," said Andrew Hargadon, director, University of California, Davis, Energy Efficiency Center.
"Increasing energy efficiency is our state's best hope to minimize the impacts of climate change, improve our energy security and reduce the cost of reliable energy services," said Lisa Bicker, president of CalCEF. "Establishing the Sempra Energy Efficiency Chair sends a clear signal that California will continue to lead in this critical area by attracting new bright talent to the field of energy efficiency."
Sempra Energy is the parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Co., Sempra Commodities, Sempra Pipelines & Storage, Sempra Generation and Sempra LNG.
Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE), based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2006 revenues of nearly $12 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 14,000 employees serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.