ORLANDO: Siemens Energy has recently secured an order for its single largest U.S. wind turbine project. Puget Sound Energy, Washington state's oldest, local energy utility, has ordered 149 wind turbines rated at 2.3 megawatts (MW) each for Phase I of the Lower Snake River Wind Project in Washington state's Garfield County. With an installed capacity of 343 MW, the wind power facility is expected to provide clean power for more than 100,000 homes. PSE has an option to purchase an additional 110 SWT-2.3-101 units in 2012 for later phases of the project.

"This order is an important stepping stone towards becoming one of the top two wind turbine supplier in the U.S.," said Rene Umlauft, CEO of the Siemens Renewable Energy Division. "We look forward to working with PSE to further advance its renewable energy initiative in the United States."

"The Siemens wind turbines for Phase I of Lower Snake River will significantly increase PSE's capacity for generating clean, renewable wind power," said Kimberly Harris, executive vice president and chief resource officer for PSE. PSE is already recognized by the American Wind Energy Association as the nation's second-largest utility owner and operator of wind power with its existing Hopkins Ridge and Wild Horse wind facilities in Washington state. Lower Snake River Phase I will be PSE's third and largest wind power project to date.

The scope of Siemens' contract with PSE for Phase I of Lower Snake River includes the supply, installation and commissioning of the 149 SWT-2.3-101 units, as well as a five-year service agreement. Shipments are expected to begin in March 2011. Since its introduction in April 2009, the SWT-2.3-101 wind turbine has quickly become the best-selling wind turbine in the U.S. The 101-meter rotor is specifically designed to optimize the energy returns in areas with moderate wind conditions.

To better meet the increasing demand for clean energy in the Americas, Siemens is currently constructing its wind turbine nacelle assembly facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, which is scheduled to become operational in December 2010. The 300,000-square-foot wind turbine nacelle facility is expected to employ approximately 400 "green-collar" employees. Siemens also recently expanded its 600,000-square-foot blade manufacturing facilities in Fort Madison, Iowa, which currently employs more than 600 people. The Siemens Wind Power business is well on its way to exceed 1,500 employees in the U.S. by the end of 2010.

Wind power is part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009, revenue from the Portfolio totaled approximately EUR23 billion, making Siemens the world's largest supplier of environmentally friendly technologies. In the same period, the company's products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 210 million tons. This amount equals the combined annual CO2 emissions of New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin.

The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2009 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR25.8 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR30 billion and posted a profit of EUR3.3 billion. On September 30, 2009, the Energy Sector had a work force of approximately 85,100.

About Puget Sound Energy: Washington state's oldest local energy utility, Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and nearly 750,000 natural gas customers in 11 counties. A subsidiary of Puget Energy, PSE meets the energy needs of its growing customer base through incremental, cost-effective energy conservation, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service and delivering energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible.