Tempe, Ariz., March 9, 2010 — First Solar struck a power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company with 300 MW of renewable electricity.

First Solar will sell renewable energy generated from a utility-scale photovoltaic solar power facility that the company is developing in Southern California.

The Desert Sunlight project, to be located near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, Calif., will have a total capacity of 550 MW, enough to power about 160,000 area homes.

The other 250 MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison. First Solar’s power purchase agreements with PG&E and SCE are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

First Solar will build the Desert Sunlight project using its industry leading thin-film photovoltaic solar modules and providing its project development, engineering, procurement and construction capabilities.

With construction expected to start by the end of 2010 and completion as early as 2013, the project will displace 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road. It will also create about 430 construction jobs. The project’s permit application has been fast tracked by the Bureau of Land Management.

First Solar has 1,700 MW of utility-scale power projects with power purchase agreements in North America.