Grace Cathedral Goes Green with PG&E Donation

2008-07-16 23:55:13 -

www.gracecathedral.org - Grace Cathedral will receive $65,000 from Pacific Gas and Electric Company for the installation of a new, state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic (PV) power system. The unique partnership will be announced at a public ceremony at the cathedral on July 16, 2008.

"We're working to make San Francisco the greenest city in the country, and this kind of partnership is exactly what's needed to help us reach that goal," said Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco. "I commend PG&E for their vision of implementing renewable energy on a true San Francisco landmark. This project supports the City's goals of increasing the use of clean, renewable power."

"Pacific Gas and Electric Company is honored to partner with Grace Cathedral, a San Francisco icon, to further its green efforts," said Nancy McFadden, senior vice president of public affairs for PG&E. "With this solar installation, we hope to continue trumpeting the use of solar photovoltaic systems and demonstrate that energy efficiency and renewable energy can be incorporated in even the most historic of buildings."

"We're grateful to PG&E for its generous contribution to Grace Cathedral's on going environmental efforts," said Alan Jones, dean of Grace Cathedral. "This new solar power system will help us conserve valuable resources, and empower us to be a part of the solution to attack greenhouse gases and global warming."

PG&E's donation to Grace Cathedral is part of the company's $7.5 million commitment to increase solar power in San Francisco.

PG&E and Grace Cathedral were brought together by the Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, president of the California Interfaith Power and Light. The cathedral is a member of CIPL.

The solar power system design and materials will be provided by SolarCity, and the installation will be handled by union contractor.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com.

For more information about Grace Cathedral, visit www.gracecathedral.org

Grace Cathedral
Heidi K. Zuhl, 415-749-6364