Mendota, Cleantech America Win CALED Award

(MENDOTA, CA --) The City of Mendota and Cleantech America, Inc. have earned an award from the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) for creating green energy jobs through CalRENEW-1, a five megawatt utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar farm to be located in Mendota, announced Bill Barnes, CEO of Cleantech America, Inc. Recently approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, the project will be the largest solar farm in California providing emission-free PV solar electricity to an investor-owned utility; electricity will be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric under a long-term power purchase agreement.

The CALED 2007 Award of Excellence honors development projects between the public and private sector that exemplify the spirit of partnership. "We're so pleased that this award was presented in the ‘Economic Development Partnerships' category," Barnes said, "because the City of Mendota is the ideal partner. It also affirms our corporate philosophy. We believe strongly in partnering with local communities and forward-thinking utilities like PG&E to develop and bring to market new renewable energy projects that benefit the environment and local economies."

Mendota Mayor Robert Silva added, "We look forward to triple benefits from this project in the areas of jobs creation, air quality, and energy self-sufficiency. We are very proud to have been acknowledged with this honor."

Regional leaders expected CalRENEW-1 to be a magnet for renewable energy-based development. Important early steps are already occurring. Cleantech America has received numerous inquiries and expressions of interest from solar and other renewable energy leaders regarding economic development potential near the solar farm. As the nomination pointed out, "The solar farm will build upon a fledgling energy sector the City has been trying to grow. The City is taking proactive steps to lead the area by… supporting job training and direct company recruitment." Cleantech America is similarly supporting job training through a $20,000 grant to the City, earmarked for solar energy worker training.

The award will be formally presented at CALED's "Growing Local Economies Conference," April 30-May 2 in Anaheim. The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) is California's premier economic development association. With over 800 members, it is one of the largest economic development associations in the country.