• Intel has contracted new solar electric installations targeted at eight U.S. locations in four states, generating approximately 2.5 megawatts of clean solar energy.
• Intel increased its renewable energy credit purchases by 10 percent – powering more than 51 percent of Intel’s estimated U.S. electricity use – and was again named the largest voluntary purchaser of green power by the EPA.
• These new investments are part of Intel’s already established commitment to energy efficiency and footprint reduction programs, with worldwide savings of more than 650 million kilowatt hours since conservation program inception in 2001.

Building on its existing portfolio of renewable energy site installations, Intel Corporation today reported that new contracts are in place to incorporate approximately 2.5 megawatts worth of new solar power projects at eight U.S. locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Oregon. In addition, Intel announced it has renewed and increased by 10 percent its purchase commitments for renewable energy credits (REC) to more than 1.43 billion kilowatt hours — more than 51 percent of its estimated 2010 U.S. electricity use.

These commitments reflect Intel’s continued focus on energy efficiency and conservation programs that will help achieve its 2012 goals related to water use, global-warming emissions, energy consumption, waste reduction and product energy efficiency. They also represent Intel’s long-standing goal of inspiring more demand for and cost-effective supply of solar and other renewable energies.

“Intel is committed to renewable energy to reduce our own carbon footprint as well as to spur the market and make renewables more economically feasible for individuals and businesses to deploy,” said Brian Krzanich, vice president and general manager of Manufacturing and Supply Chain for Intel. “These announcements represent our broader commitment which includes diversifying our energy portfolio through solar and other clean energy investments, and this will continue to be a priority for us around the globe.”

Intel’s new solar installations are planned to be completed over the next 7 months. Each project would currently rank as one of the 10 largest solar installations in its respective region if activated today. For example, the panels planned for Intel’s Chandler and Ocotillo campuses in Arizona would each currently be the fifth largest in SRP service territory or the second largest when combined, according to the utility company. All of the solar panels will be installed on the roofs of Intel’s facilities, with the major exception of the largest installation, an approximately 1-megawatt solar field in Folsom, Calif. The Folsom installation will span nearly six acres of land on campus, which would make it one of the largest non-utility ground-mounts in California at the time of this release. All of the installations will use the power generated at their respective site, making them an efficient source of electricity with savings on grid delivery losses.

RECs are the “currency” of renewable energy markets, and Intel’s latest REC purchases equate to approximately 51 percent of Intel’s estimated purchased electricity needs in the United States for 2010. This corresponds to the carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity use of nearly 134,000 average American homes or nearly 200,000 passenger cars removed from the streets for 1 year.¹ As a result of Intel’s continued commitment to purchase RECs, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) again placed Intel at the top of its latest Green Power Partner List for 2010 as the largest voluntary, single purchaser of green power. Intel was previously honored with the EPA’s Green Power Partner of the Year Award.

Intel’s new solar installations and its reaffirmed commitment to purchasing RECs reflect just the latest in Intel’s energy portfolio, which includes wind, solar, geo-thermal, small hydro-electric and biomass sources. Since 2001, Intel has invested more than $30 million and saved more than 650 million kilowatt hours from energy conservation and efficiency initiatives.² Other highlights include:

Investments: Intel reaffirms its dedication to clean technology innovation and development.

• In July 2009, Intel Capital, Intel’s global investment organization, announced five cleantech investments totaling more than $10 million.
• In total, Intel Capital has invested more than $125 million in more than a dozen cleantech companies that span four continents; four in solar photovoltaics, further demonstrating Intel’s commitment to accelerating innovation in this space.

Installations: Intel continues to look for opportunities across its dispersed locations.

• Intel’s Bangalore, India site hosted the company’s first solar thermal installation: solar water heaters, which now supply nearly 100 percent of the total hot water requirements for two campuses, saving 70,000 kilowatts per year.
• Intel Oregon energized the company’s first solar electric system on the roof of its Jones Farm site in early 2009.
• Later this year, Intel’s Haifa, Israel (IDC 9) site will open Intel’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-registered building.³

Employee Engagement: Employee engagement in sustainability is paramount at Intel with a portion of each employee’s variable compensation tied to company performance against environmental metrics, which include reducing Intel’s absolute carbon footprint growth.

• As a key element of Intel’s new solar installations, awareness kiosks will be set up in each site lobby to educate and engage employees in the company’s energy efforts.

Intel’s REC purchase will be handled by Sterling Planet, a national supplier of renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon solutions. All purchases will be certified by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e® program, which certifies and verifies green power products.

• View or download b-roll video

www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

Intel, the Intel logo and Moblin are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

1 Source: EPA 2010 Green Power Partnership Press Release. Click here for more information.

2 Source: Intel Corporate Responsibility Report. For more information, visit: http://download.intel.com/intel/cr/gcr/pdf/Intel_CSR_Report_2008.pdf.

3 Source: Intel Corporate Responsibility Report.

“These Pathways Out of Poverty grants will help workers in disadvantaged communities gain access to the good, safe and prosperous jobs of the 21st century green economy,”said Secretary Solis. “Green jobs present tremendous opportunities for people who have the core skills and competencies needed in such well-paying and rapidly growing industries as energy efficiency and renewable energy.”

Through the 38 grants awards announced today, targeted populations will receive recruitment and referral services; basic skills, work-readiness and occupational skills training; supportive services to help overcome barriers to employment; and other services at times and locations that are easily accessible. Through these programs, participants will receive certifications and on-the-job training that will lead to employment.

In order to serve the specific populations targeted by these grants effectively, the Department of Labor encouraged applicants to focus project efforts in communities located within one or more contiguous Public Micro Data Areas (PUMAs) where poverty rates were 15 percent or higher. PUMAs are geographic areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. All applicants were required to have experience serving economically disadvantaged populations. Programs funded today will serve unemployed individuals, high school dropouts, and other disadvantaged individuals within areas of high poverty.

There are two types of award recipients for these grants: 1) national nonprofit entities with networks of local affiliates, coalition members or other established partners; and 2) local entities including nonprofit organizations, such as community and faith-based organizations, the public workforce investment system, the education and training community, labor organizations, and employer and industry-related organizations.

Today’s grants are part of a larger Recovery Act initiative — totaling $500 million — to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency industries. For a full listing of the grants and project descriptions, visit http://www.doleta.gov/pdf/Pathways_Poverty_grants.pdf. To view a video by Secretary Solis, visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/pathways. The U.S. Department of Labor expects to release funding for one remaining green grant award category over the next several weeks.

To find out more about job training opportunities available through the Department of Labor, call the National Contact Center’s toll-free helpline at: 866-4-USA-DOL (487-2365) or TTY 877-889-5627.

WASHINGTON DC -   The Department of Energy announced that it has received certifications for over 600,000 residential appliances in 15 different product categories in response to the Department’s enhanced energy efficiency enforcement efforts.

DOE recently announced that manufacturers had until January 8, 2010 to submit correct energy use data to the Department of Energy before aggressive enforcement actions were taken.  The certification data provided by 160 different manufacturers will allow DOE to review manufacturers’ compliance with minimum energy efficiency standards and take action to ensure that products are delivering the energy and cost savings required by law. DOE will continue to accept certification reports that were sent by mail and postmarked by January 8th.

“The Department of Energy’s newly enhanced enforcement efforts are greatly improving the quality of the energy efficiency information available to DOE and the American consumer,” said DOE’s General Counsel Scott Blake Harris. “Moving forward, we will aggressively pursue all manufacturers who have failed to comply with these certification requirements or whose products violate the country’s energy efficiency standards.”

Under federal law, manufacturers of a range of household appliances are required to certify with the Department that their models meet DOE’s minimum appliance conservation standards.  DOE has made clear that failure to submit these energy use reports violates the Energy Policy Conservation Act of 1975 and will result in enforcement by the Department, including civil penalties or fines.

These certification reports provide DOE with critical information to ensure that American consumers are buying products that deliver significant energy and cost savings. DOE will immediately begin reviewing the filings and will aggressively enforce any violations.

Washington, DC – The Department of Energy announced today that it has entered into a Consent Decree with Haier America resolving an investigation into whether Haier violated DOE’s energy efficiency standards.  DOE’s investigation led Haier to determine that a parts defect caused certain freezers to consume more energy than represented to consumers and possibly violated DOE’s energy efficiency standards and the ENERGY STAR® requirements for freezers.  As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to enforcing energy efficiency, this Consent Decree obligates Haier to notify affected consumers, repair defective units, and pay a voluntary contribution to the U.S. Treasury.

During the investigation by DOE’s Office of General Counsel, Haier voluntarily identified a parts defect that had caused the freezer models to consume additional energy and took immediate steps on its own to remedy the defects.  Haier’s cooperation with the Department of Energy’s investigation was critical in reaching the Consent Decree, the first ever entered into by the Department of Energy to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards.

“Enhanced energy efficiency is a national priority, and DOE will continue to vigorously enforce energy efficiency standards and ENERGY STAR® criteria,” said DOE General Counsel Scott Blake Harris.  “Haier’s voluntary disclosures and voluntary remediation measures helped to reach this Consent Decree, which requires swift action to protect both consumers and the environment from the consequences of wasteful energy use.  We would encourage all manufacturers to follow this example in the future.”

Prior to the Consent Decree, Haier took actions on their own to stop the distribution of any of the affected freezer models.   Standalone upright freezers sold between December 2008 and August 2009 are covered by the Consent Decree, although not all of the units will necessarily be affected by the parts defect.  The following freezer models are covered: HUF138EA (ENERGY STAR®), HUF138PB, HUF168EA (ENERGY STAR®), and HUF168PB.

Under today’s legal agreement, Haier will expand its efforts to inform consumers about potential defects in previously distributed freezers, will correct any identified defects at their expense, and will make a voluntary payment to the U.S. Treasury.  The Consent Decree announced today provides an immediate mechanism for protecting consumers and the environment from inefficient appliances.

Among other obligations, Haier has agreed to:

• Attempt to obtain information from retailers or other parties who may have contact information for affected customers;
• Individually notify affected customers with their offer to repair the affected unit;
• Conduct on-site unit repairs at no cost to consumers;
• Extend the warranty on all affected units; and
• Voluntarily contribute $150,000 to the U.S. Treasury.

Read the full Consent Decree.