| SAN
DIEGO AND LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2007 – Clean Energy
Systems (CES), an entrepreneurial energy development firm,
with backing from Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company)
and others, is seeking funds to build the nation’s first
natural gas zero-emission power plant (ZEPP) in California.
CONTACTS:
Leonard Devanna
Clean Energy Systems
(916) 379-9143
Eddie Van Herik
San Diego Gas & Electric
Southern California Gas Co.
(877) 866-2066
CES has developed an innovative new technology with the potential
to eliminate two key power plant emissions while using a third
to increase the supply of available oil.
The new technology burns fuel in an oxygen environment, rather
than air, to eliminate nitrogen oxides, key in the production
of smog; sulfur dioxide, which helps create acid rain; and
carcinogen-bearing particulates. In addition, carbon dioxide,
a contributor to global warning, is captured and pumped underground
to loosen deposits of oil, which then can be recovered in
an economical manner.
By allowing for the economic recovery of more domestic oil,
the sequestration process could lessen U.S. dependence on
imported supplies. It is estimated that up to 5 billion barrels
of oil could be extracted under California alone.
CES has received funding from The Gas Company to help complete
development of the technology. CES also is seeking funding
support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the California
Energy Commission to build the first ZEPP plant in California.
“We believe Clean Energy Systems has potential break-through
technology to eliminate power plant emissions and support
California’s ambitious initiatives to reduce greenhouse
gases,” said Rick Morrow, vice president of customer
service for The Gas Company.
“Since 2000, the California Energy Commission’s
Public Interest Energy Research Program has provided more
than $4 million in co-funding to CES for the demonstration
of this innovative oxy-fuel power plant technology,”
said Commissioner John Geesman of the California Energy Commission.
“California needs solutions to its emissions issues,
and technologies like this could be part of the answer.”
The proposed 50-megawatt facility represents the first commercial
demonstration of a zero-emission power plant, which could
play a major role as the power-generation industry seeks new
technologies to reduce gases associated with global warming.
A megawatt is enough to power approximately 650 homes.
The plant will not have the traditional power plant stack
because there are no emissions to the atmosphere. “This
is the ultimate solution to power plant emissions,”
said Keith Pronske, President and CEO of CES. “By eliminating
the stack, we eliminate all forms of emissions including greenhouse
gases, particulate matter and ozone-forming nitrogen oxides.”
CES was founded by a group of engineers and scientists –
many from the space program -- who decided in 1996 to address
the issues caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The group,
which founded CES, pooled their combined expertise to take
the technology that launches rockets and transform it into
a pollution-free power plant. “Rockets use oxy-combustion
to achieve instantaneous power,” said Pronske. “The
same combustion process can also make zero-emission power.”
If funding is approved, the plant is expected to be completed
in the second half of 2009.
Clean Energy Systems, of Rancho Cordova, CA, specializes in
the development of zero emissions commercial power plants
utilizing an oxy-fuel combustion process. The power plants
use oxygen and various fuels to produce power that results
in zero atmospheric emissions and water as a byproduct. The
company owns an extensive portfolio of patents and a Bakersfield,
CA power plant, used to further develop the oxy fuel technology.
For additional information, go to www.CleanEnergySystems.com.
Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe
and reliable natural gas to its customers for nearly 140 years.
It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility,
serving a population of 19.8 million consumers through 5.6
million gas meters in more than 500 communities. The company's
service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square
miles of diverse terrain throughout Central and Southern California,
from Visalia to the Mexican border. The Gas Company is a regulated
subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). Sempra Energy, based
in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.
To learn more, go to www.socalgas.com.
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