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Yahoo! Chooses Green Power to Support Regional Renewable Development
Joins Santa Clara Green Power through utility to support California wind and solar energy
 

Santa Clara, Calif. – April 18, 2006 – Silicon Valley Power (SVP) announced today that Yahoo!, a global internet service leader, has joined its renewable energy program Santa Clara Green Power. Yahoo! now purchases 804,000 kWh of clean renewable energy credits, derived from new wind and solar generation sources in California, equivalent to one quarter the annual output of one large-scale wind turbine.

This wind and solar energy commitment is in line with Yahoo! for Good, the company's community relations program. In addition to energy conservation programs already in place, renewable energy is a new benefit to Yahoo!’s overall energy footprint. This commitment prevents the annual release of more than 800,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas. The environmental benefit of a purchase this size is equivalent to planting 108 acres of forest or removing 70 cars from the road for a year.

“Yahoo! is committed to renewable power as it helps support sustainable, healthy communities for our customers and employees,” said Meg Garlinghouse, director of Yahoo! For Good. “Santa Clara Green Power gives us the opportunity to work together with the community to reach our common goals.”

By joining Santa Clara Green Power, Yahoo! becomes a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership for its facilities in Santa Clara and enters the growing circle of other large Santa Clara businesses supporting renewable energy, including Agilent Technologies, Cisco, and Applied Materials, as well as Santa Clara University. In addition, more than 100 small businesses are participating along with 2,300 households.

“Big players like Yahoo! bring greater awareness to the program and help to further our goal of supporting California’s development of clean energy resources,” said Joyce Kinnear, Public Benefit Program Manager for Silicon Valley Power. “We are proud of the strong business support for renewable energy in the Santa Clara community.”

On behalf of Yahoo!, SVP will purchase renewable energy credits from newly constructed wind farms and solar photovoltaic projects located within California. A portion of Yahoo!’s Santa Clara Green Power rate will support new solar facilities in the City of Santa Clara, such as the Haman Elementary School project, helping to bring new installations into the community.

 
Silicon Valley Power
Silicon Valley Power is the trademark adopted for use by the century-old Electric Department of the City of Santa Clara, California. Silicon Valley Power provides power for more than 50,000 customers, including Yahoo!, Applied Materials, Intel and National Semiconductor. It also is an active participant in the wholesale energy markets in the Western United States. Visit www.siliconvalleypower.com for more information.

Santa Clara Green Power is a voluntary renewable energy program offered by Silicon Valley Power to all residential, commercial, and industrial customers within Santa Clara as a way to support energy generated from 100% clean wind and solar power resources at a low additional cost of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. Santa Clara utility customers can enroll in Santa Clara Green Power by signing up through the secure website at www.siliconvalleypower.com; sending an email that includes the customer's name, address, account and phone number to green@siliconvalleypower.com; or by calling (408) 244-SAVE (7283).

 
3 Phases Energy Services
3 Phases Energy, a national renewable energy company, supports SVP as its partner in developing the Santa Clara Green Power offering and in managing renewable energy purchases and marketing on behalf of the City of Santa Clara. 3 Phases Energy is committed to promoting and implementing renewable energy options. For more information, visit www.3phases.com.
 
 
Contact:
Larry Owens, Silicon Valley Power
Tel: (408) 615-5690; Cell: (408) 621-5873
Joyce Kinnear, Silicon Valley Power
Tel: (408) 615-5686; Cell: (408) 888-6804
Carol McCarthy, City of Santa Clara
Tel: (408) 615-2213
 
Agency Contact:
Mari Edlin, Cintara
Public Relations Consultant
(707) 939-7121