PG&E to get 900 MW of solar thermal from BrightSource

San Francisco-based utility PG&E (NYSE: PCG) said today it signed five contracts to purchase up to 900 megawatts of solar thermal power from Oakland, Calif.'s BrightSource Energy.

PG&E said the first three contracts are for a total of 500 MW of power to be supplied from three solar thermal electric generating projects.

The California utility also signed two contracts for options on an additional 400 MW of solar power.

"Solar thermal energy is an especially attractive renewable power source because it is available when needed most in California — during the peak mid-day summer period," said Fong Wan, VP of energy procurement at PG&E.

"Through these agreements with BrightSource, we continue to broaden our renewable energy portfolio and provide our customers with some of the cleanest energy in the nation."

PG&E said the first of the solar power plants under the agreements, sized at 100 MW in Ivanpah, Calif., could be operating as early as 2011 and is expected to produce 246,000 megawatt hours of renewable electricity per year.

BrightSource's goal is to substantially lower the cost and increase the use of solar energy throughout the Western U.S., according to PG&E.

BrightSource plans to build and place in commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting and infrastructure allow.

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