January 20, 2010

San Francisco, CA, USA: PG&E and SolarCity Announce $60M in Financing to Install Solar Power

Pacific Venture Capital, LLC, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, and SolarCity today announced $60 million in tax equity financing for solar installations for U.S. homes and businesses.

The investment—funded by PG&E Corporation shareholders—is expected to allow SolarCity to install more than 1,000 solar systems for U.S. homeowners and businesses via the company’s SolarLease® and Power Purchase Agreement financing options.

SolarCity’s financing options allow homeowners and businesses to adopt solar power with no upfront investment and to save money from day one on energy costs. Under the agreement, in return for providing the upfront investment needed for the new systems, Pacific Venture Capital will receive lease revenues from SolarCity customers, along with the benefits of federal investment tax credits and local rebates for the solar energy projects. The transaction represents the first such tax equity financing investment by a utility holding company and the first such collaboration between a utility holding company and a solar power provider.

“This investment represents an opportunity to broaden access to renewable energy, consistent with our focus on advancing clean, low-carbon energy solutions and California’s goals to expand rooftop solar,” said Rand Rosenberg, PG&E Corporation Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development. “Equally significant, it enables us to take an initial step toward gaining valuable experience with a technology and a marketplace that may become increasingly important in the future.”

The solar systems funded under the agreement are expected to be installed in 2010, predominantly in California, with some in Arizona and Colorado. SolarCity already has more than 1,700 solar customers in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s service area and more than 5,000 solar customers overall.

“SolarCity strongly believes solar companies and traditional energy industry players must work together if solar power is to become a mainstream source of electricity in America,” said Lyndon Rive, SolarCity’s CEO. “PG&E has always been a leader in renewable energy adoption. This agreement is yet another example of PG&E leadership in clean power generation that hopefully others can follow.”

Further details about: PG&E and SolarCity