PG&E Announces Solar School and Bright Ideas Grant Winners PG&E Solar Schools Program Now Serves 100 Public Schools in Underserved Communities in Northern and Central California

Release Date: March 18, 2008
Contact: PG&E External Communications (415) 973-5930

SACRAMENTO- Hosting today a free one-day, solar-energy training course for teachers throughout northern and central California - Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced the 40 schools selected to receive installation of a 1.3 kilowatt solar generation system valued at $25,000. PG&E also announced the 42 schools chosen to receive up to $5,000 in "Bright Ideas" grants for their innovative solar science projects.

"Educating and inspiring our future leaders about the importance of renewable energy and environmental stewardship is critical as we seek to address the challenges of climate change," said Ophelia Basgal, vice president of civic partnerships and community initiatives at PG&E. "We thank the participating teachers and schools who make this goal possible with their support and dedication."

The PG&E Solar Schools Program includes installation of photovoltaic systems in public schools, a solar-based curriculum training package, workshops for teachers and "Bright Ideas" grants which support innovative solar science projects in classrooms. (The complete list of 2007 winners can be found below.) Each photovoltaic system generates 1.3 kilowatts of electricity, or enough to provide for the power needs of an entire classroom. Since its inception in 2004, PG&E has contributed $6 million to this shareholder-funded program which includes 100 schools and has trained over 2,000 teachers, benefiting nearly 100,000 students throughout PG&E's northern and central California service area.

PG&E partners with leaders in the education sector and the solar industry to deliver the training and infrastructure associated with this program. The National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) manages curriculum training and administration of the "Bright Ideas" grants; the Foundation for Environmental Education coordinates installation of the donated photovoltaic systems.

PG&E's award-winning Solar Schools Program is nationally recognized for teaching the value of alternative energy. The Solar Schools Program has been awarded the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's IREC Annual Innovation award, named "Education Innovator of the Year" by the San Francisco Business Times and received the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor.

The utility has a long history of making charitable grants tailored to the wide variety of needs in the communities it serves. The company's broader program of support to communities includes cash grants, in-kind contributions, and volunteers for community-based nonprofit organizations, and for schools and other governmental programs throughout northern and central California. All charitable contributions are entirely funded by PG&E Corporation shareholders and the level of charitable giving does not affect gas and electric rates.

The 2007 PG&E Solar Schools and Bright Ideas Award Winners:

Schools Receiving $25,000 Solar Generation Systems
Starr King Elementary	San Francisco
Lawton Elementary School	San Francisco
Lafayette Elementary School	San Francisco
Sunset Elementary	San Francisco
Creative Arts Charter	San Francisco
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Middle School	San Francisco
Marshall Elementary School	San Francisco
Argonne Elementary School	San Francisco
Forty Niners' Academy	East Palo Alto
Bessie Carmichael	San Francisco
Gateway High School	San Francisco
Emery Secondary School	Emeryville
San Lorenzo High School	San Lorenzo
Skyline High School	Oakland
Oakland Aviation High School	Oakland
Irvington High School	Fremont
New Brighten Middle School	Soquel
Milpitas High School Engineering Academy	Milpitas
Hacienda Science/Environmental Magnet School	San Jose
Oceano Elementary School	Oceano
Sierra Middle School	Bakersfield
Madera South High School	Madera
San Joaquin Elementary	San Joaquin
South/West Park Elementary School	Tracy
Soulsbyville Elementary School	Soulsbyville
Ripona Elementary School	Ripon
Shirley Rominger Intermediate School	Winters
Grizzly Hill School	Nevada City
Pioneer High School	Woodland
Foothill High School	Palo Cedro
Maxwell Elementary School	Maxwell
Cottage Hill Elementary School	Grass Valley
Marguerite Montgomery Elementary	Davis
Middletown High School	Middletown
Trinity Valley Elementary	Willow Creek
Peninsula Union Elementary School	Samoa
Laytonville High School	Laytonville
Bahia Vista	San Rafael
Willow Creek Academy	Sausalito
Santa Rosa Charter School	Santa Rosa

Schools Receiving up to $5,000 in "Bright Ideas" Grants
Glenview Elementary School	Oakland
Fremont Elementary School	Delano/Kern
Kathern R. Smith School	San Jose
Marina Middle School	San Francisco
Middle College High School	Stockton
San Lorenzo High School	San Lorenzo
Pacific Valley School	Big Sur
Joe Nightingale Elementary School	Santa Maria
Martin Murphy Middle School	San Jose
Foothill Horizons Outdoor School	Sonora
Paso Robles High School	Paso Robles
Gateway High School	San Francisco
Arena Union Elementary School	Point Arena
Laneview Elementary School	San Jose
Christensen Middle School	Livermore
Pacific Community Charter High School	Point Arena
Templeton Middle & High School	Templeton
Niles Elementary School	Fremont
Shasta Elementary School	Manteca
Sierra Middle School	Bakersfield
Venture Academy	Stockton
Wanda Hirsch Elementary School	Tracy
Fairview Elementary School	Orland
Grace Patterson Elementary School	Vallejo
Murwood Elementary School	Walnut Creek
John Muir Elementary School	San Francisco
Sunset Middle School	Bakersfield
Skyline High School	Oakland
Hacienda Science/Environmental Magnet	San Jose
San Juan High School	Citrus Heights
Fowler High School	Fowler
Plainfield Elementary School	Woodland
Yolo Middle School	Newman
Lone Tree Elementary School	Beale AFB
Sir Francis Drake High School	San Anselmo
YCOE/ROP at Pioneer High School	Woodland
Madera South High School	Fresno
Rancho Cotate High School	Rohnert Park
Cupertino High School	Cupertino
Winters High School	Winters
Del Oro High School	Loomis
Life Learning Academy	Treasure Island