ESA Renewables Constructs and Commissions 500-kW Rooftop Solar System in North Carolina

Online, January 25, 2012 (Newswire.com) - ESA Renewables, (ESA), a turnkey solar solutions provider, announced today it has commissioned a 500-kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic (PV) system in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. ESA developed, constructed the array, installed its monitoring system and will be providing operation and maintenance services for the duration of the Power Purchase Agreement term. The electricity generated from the installation will be sold to Progress Energy Carolinas for use with its customers.

"We are excited to have commissioned the Fuquay-Varina project as it further enables ESA to be part of North Carolina's sustainable energy solution, providing clean, renewable solar energy," said Jeffrey Burkett, president of ESA Renewables. "ESA's proprietary monitoring system has been installed onsite enabling us to provide the highest level of operations and maintenance control for maximum energy production."

The solar PV array is situated on the rooftop of a building off of Purfoy Road in Wake County. The installation covers 55,867 square-feet of the roof and is expected to annually generate the equivalent amount of electricity as consumed annually by 83 average North Carolina homes.

The PV system was purchased at commissioning by Holocene, a Raleigh, North Carolina, renewable energy company. "We are delighted to be partnered with ESA Renewables on this prominent renewable energy project. ESA Renewables' professional team worked closely with Holocene leadership in meeting part of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard," said Ralph Thompson, President of Holocene. Thompson also said, "This is an attractive addition to our growing pool of owned renewable energy assets."

To facilitate grid-connection, ESA developed the project, installed 2,016 Canadian Solar 245 Wp and 250 Wp CS5P modules and provided EPC services.

This solar PV project is made possible by Progress Energy Carolinas' SunSense® Commercial Solar PV program, designed to encourage renewable energy by providing a premium price for solar power developed on commercial rooftops. This array in Fuquay-Varina is the largest SunSense solar array in operation in Wake County, N.C.

About ESA Renewables, LLC:
ESA Renewables has positioned itself as a leader in the industry providing turnkey solar PV systems globally. ESA owns and operates a diverse portfolio of over 475 solar PV power generating facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy. ESA's scope of services includes financing, engineering, construction, testing and operation and maintenance. With headquarters in Castellon Spain, ESA has additional offices in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, France and Italy. For more information about ESA Renewables, LLC, please visit http://www.esarenewables.com or call 407-268-6455.

About Progress Energy:
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and approximately $10 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve about 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company's website at www.progress-energy.com.

About Holocene, LLC:
Holocene is a leading provider of renewable energy products and services specializing in the design, installation and financing of a wide variety of renewable energy technologies, including solar water heating and PV solar energy systems. Known for delivering customized sustainable energy solutions, Holocene and its affiliated companies offer affordable, creative and strategic alternative energy technologies and services to a diverse portfolio of private and public organizations. For more information on Holocene, visit www.holocene-energy.com.

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Media Contacts:
Progress Energy Carolinas: 877-641-6397
ESA Renewables, LLC: 407-268-6455
Holocene, LLC: 919-829-0037