For Immediate Release

ALAMEDA POWER & TELECOM
BEATS NEW STATE REQUIREMENTS
FOR USE OF RENEWABLE POWER

ALAMEDA, Calif., Sept. 17, 2002 - By signing into law Senate Bill 1078, California Governor Gray Davis has set new standards for use of renewable energy sources by the state's utilities. The new law requires municipal electric utilities, like Alameda Power & Telecom, to set renewable resource standards and report progress to customers. Investor-owned electric-utility companies must expand their use of renewable power sources at the rate of one percent a year. Under the law, a deadline of 2017 has been set as the date by which utilities will be required to have 20 percent of their power derived from renewable sources.

According to Valerie Fong, utility services manager of Alameda Power & Telecom, our municipally owned utility is already far ahead of the new requirements for both public and investor-owned utilities. "Currently, over 80 percent of our electric power comes from renewable sources," Fong says. "We have had a long-standing policy of using non-fossil-fuel sources for the electric power we sell to our customers."

Alameda Power & Telecom derives approximately fifty percent of its power through the use of geothermal power-generating facilities. Another 25 percent is obtained from hydroelectric sources.

Fong adds, "Even though a very high percentage of our power currently comes from renewable sources, we continue to look for ways to expand our use of non-polluting power sources."

In addition to its basic power generation, the utility is demonstrating its commitment to "green power" in a variety of ways. As an example, the utility has installed a solar photovoltaic system at Alameda's Lincoln Middle School. Although it produces only a small portion of the school's power needs, it provides a demonstration unit for educational purposes.

Alameda Power & Telecom has also converted its back-up generators to low-emission biodiesel fuel.

"We endorse the intent of the new law, requiring the increased use of renewable power sources," Fong says. "We're proud to be leading the way in the shift to power sources that have minimal impact on the environment."