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January 15, 2010

Power Project Receives National Award

Alameda, California, January 15, 2010 – Alameda Municipal Power announced today that one of its power resources has received an award of Project of the Year from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Ox Mountain landfill-gas-to-energy facility in Half Moon Bay received the award under the EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program.

The plant provides enough renewable energy to power more than 11,900 average-sized homes and approximately 11% of the electricity consumed in Alameda.  Some 22% of Alameda’s power now is generated by landfill-gas-to-energy plants.  Alameda shares the output of the Ox Mountain facility with the City of Palo Alto.

The Ox Mountain plant began providing electricity to Alameda in July of last year and is one of four such plants now supplying power to the community.  Alameda is pursuing additional landfill-gas-to-energy resources to turn garbage into a valuable resource to add to its strong renewable power portfolio.

AMP continues to be a leader in the industry with an impressive renewable power portfolio that consists of 63% State “eligible renewable” and 83% carbon-free resources, far in excess of State regulatory requirements.  The City of Alameda, as a direct result of its utility’s power portfolio, ranks lowest in greenhouse gas emissions in Alameda County and among the lowest in the State of California.

Both Alameda and Palo Alto have been cited previously by the EPA for participation in developing landfill-gas-to-energy resources.  Landfill-gas-to-energy utilization has been noted in other environmental awards accorded Alameda.

AMP has long recognized that garbage-laden landfills are a valuable source of renewable energy.  Of the technologies available to capitalize on these resources, methane capture carries a unique combination of economy, efficiency, and environmental benefits.  Beginning in 2001, AMP began actively seeking methane capture opportunities to incorporate in its power portfolio.

The annual electricity generated by the Ox Mountain project will prevent the release of 71,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. That is the equivalent of taking 11,800 cars off the road.