Fresno Yosemite International Airport and WorldWater & Solar Technologies Host Dedication Ceremony to Showcase the Largest Solar Airport Installation in the Nation

FRESNO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FYI), the major air transportation center for the City of Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley, along with WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. (OTC BB:WWAT.OB), developer and marketer of proprietary high-power solar systems, announced that a dedication ceremony will be held today, July 16, in celebration of the opening of the largest solar airport installation to date in the U.S. Representatives of the Office of the Governor and Fresno Mayor Alan Autry are scheduled to attend, among other dignitaries.

“We also believe that this will help build momentum at the national level for sound renewable energy policies that will surely be discussed in the months ahead.”

“The solar system will provide an impressive 40% of the power supply required to run the day to day needs of the airport such as lighting, air conditioning, controls and tower communications,” says Russ Widmar, Fresno Aviation Director. “Using renewable solar energy will decrease overhead costs and improve the financial performance of our operations. In addition, the solar installation has been constructed on land located near our runways that up until now was unusable. We hope that other airports will follow our lead by turning to solar power.”

Speakers at the event will include a member of the Office of the Governor; Fresno Mayor Alan Autry; Russ Widmar, Fresno Aviation Director; Frank Smith, CEO, WorldWater & Solar Technologies; and Greg Pruett, Senior VP of Corporate Relations, PG&E. The Mayor of Fresno will present a proclamation to the airport and PG&E will issue a ceremonial rebate check for the installation.

“This event is a milestone marking the increased popularity of solar as a viable source of alternative energy, particularly now as the cost for fuel and electricity continues to rise to unprecedented levels,” says Frank Smith, CEO, WorldWater & Solar Technologies. “We provided Fresno with a 2-megawatt, ground-mounted solar system spanning 9.5 acres, or the equivalent of seven football fields. The project is expected to save the airport about $13 million dollars over the next 20 years.”

Partners in this project include Sharp Solar, which supplied the panels for the project, Xantrex Technology Inc., which provided the inverters, and Solar Power Partners of Mill Valley, CA which will operate and manage the system and will oversee the sale of the solar generated power to the airport through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement, or PPA. The PPA financing structure has enabled the airport to embrace solar energy without any capital expense. In addition, PG&E, the local electric utility, will manage the net-metering connection with the grid. PG&E is also the administrator of the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) incentive program.

“As a world leader in solar electricity, Sharp has helped many forward-thinking organizations reduce its environmental footprint and achieve sustainability,” added Ron Kenedi, vice president of Sharp’s Solar Energy Solutions Group. “We’re pleased to support Fresno Airport’s pioneering solar project.”

“Solar Power Partners applauds the City of Fresno and the Fresno International Airport for their leadership in the adoption of solar energy. The success of the Fresno Airport project sets a wonderful example for other airports and municipal entities to follow as we all strive to reduce greenhouse gases and manage energy costs,” said Alexander V. Welczeck, CEO of Solar Power Partners.

“This installation will help protect the environment with a major alternative energy resource,” said Al Galvez, PG&E Manager of Fresno Government and Community Relations. “We also believe that this will help build momentum at the national level for sound renewable energy policies that will surely be discussed in the months ahead.”

ADDITIONAL VISUALS:

• High-resolution B-roll of the solar farm and the airport can be obtained by emailing one of the contacts below.
• WorldWater & Solar Technologies “Mobile MaxPure” portable solar water purification and power generation system will be on-site to provide electricity for the event.

About Fresno Yosemite International

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is a public airport located in southeastern Fresno, in Fresno County, California. The airport covers 2,150 acres and has two runways and one helipad; it is the major air transportation center for the San Joaquin Valley, with major air carrier service to airline hubs throughout the Western United States. Currently, nine carriers offer Valley passengers nearly 48 daily non-stop departures from Fresno. Visit www.flyfresno.com.

About WorldWater & Solar Technologies

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. is a full-service solar electric engineering and water management company with unique, high-powered and patented solar technology that can not only generate and distribute electricity, but can drive 1000 horsepower motors and pumps from sunshine independently or in conjunction with the electric grid, providing solutions to a broad spectrum of the world's electricity and water supply problems. For more information about WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp., visit the website at www.worldwater.com.

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