Parking Canopy Is Largest Solar Energy Generator in Sonoma County
SAN JOSE, Calif. and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) and SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWRA,
SPWRB), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar
systems, will dedicate a 1-megawatt solar tracking system today at Agilent's
Santa Rosa, Calif., campus.
The system features a three-acre parking lot canopy structure with nearly
3,500 SunPower solar panels that track the sun throughout the day, providing
shade and solar electric power for Agilent's facility. The design of
SunPower's tracking solar system will generate up to 25 percent more energy
for Agilent than a similarly sized flat, rooftop system. As a result,
Agilent's solar parking canopy is the largest solar energy generator in Sonoma
County.
'Agilent's commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen includes
taking steps to protect the environment,' said Ron Nersesian, vice president
of Agilent's Wireless Business Unit and general manager of the company's Santa
Rosa facility. 'We work continuously to reduce the environmental impact of our
operations, suppliers, products and services, and this new solar power system
is a great complement to our existing sustainability programs.'
Agilent owns the renewable energy credits and all environmental attributes
associated with the system. GE Energy Financial Services owns the system,
which SunPower designed and built and is operating. Agilent will purchase the
generated electricity from GE Energy Financial Services under the SunPower
Access(TM) power purchase agreement program.
'Converting an underutilized asset such as a parking area into a
distributed power plant is a great example of how forward-thinking companies
like Agilent and GE Energy Financial Services are taking advantage of today's
solar technology,' said Tom Werner, chief executive officer of SunPower. 'The
power purchase agreement provides Agilent with immediate savings and a long-
term hedge against rising peak power prices.'
Using SunPower solar panels, the highest-efficiency panels on the market
today, the system is expected to displace more than 90 million pounds of
carbon dioxide over the next 30 years. This is equivalent to the emissions
from approximately 7,500 cars.
About SunPower
SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and
delivers high-performance solar electric systems worldwide for residential,
commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. SunPower high-efficiency
solar cells and solar panels generate up to 50 percent more power than
conventional solar technologies and have a uniquely attractive, all-black
appearance. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in
North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit
www.sunpowercorp.com.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement
company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences
and chemical analysis. The company's 20,000 employees serve customers in more
than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.4 billion in fiscal 2007.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Forward-looking statements are statements that do not represent historical
facts. The companies use words and phrases such as 'rising,' 'is expected,'
and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-
looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, the
companies' plans and expectations regarding: (a) peak power prices rising;
and (b) the system displacing more than 90 million pounds of carbon dioxide
over the next 30 years, equivalent to the emissions from approximately 7,500
cars. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to
the companies as of the date of this release and management's current
expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties
include a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the companies' control.
In particular, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ include: (i) actual electricity generation, (ii) the actual energy
consumption rate; (iii) unexpected changes in utility service rates; (iv)
variations in carbon dioxide emissions reductions; and (v) other risks
described in SunPower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 29, 2008, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the
companies' views as of any subsequent date, and the companies are under no
obligation to, and expressly disclaim any responsibility to, update or alter
their forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
SunPower is a registered trademark of SunPower Corp. All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE SunPower Corporation
