Mineta San Jose International Airport Completes Solar Energy System with Canadian Solar PV Modules

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May 27, 2010, 06:22 ET

ONTARIO, Canada, and SAN JOSE, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Canadian Solar Inc. ("the Company," "Canadian Solar" or "we") (Nasdaq: CSIQ), one of the world's largest solar companies, and Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) today announced the completion of a roof-mount photovoltaic (PV) solar electric system on the airport's new 3,350-space, seven-story rental car center and public parking garage. The environmental impact of the system is the equivalent of removing 235 passenger vehicles from the road or the amount of carbon that 6,422 trees would sequester annually.

Featuring Canadian Solar's high-performance solar modules, this new 1.12 MW installation is part of the SJC Terminal Area Improvement Program, the comprehensive $1.3 billion initiative to modernize and replace the airport's terminal facilities. The installation has a projected annual output of 1,713,000 kWh, which is expected to provide enough power to offset at least 20 percent of the facility's total electrical power needs.

Mike Miskovsky, U.S. general manager of Canadian Solar, Inc., said, "This showcase installation partners two leaders in solar energy adoption, SJC and Canadian Solar. We are proud that our power-efficient, high-quality modules were selected for this important installation, as part of the airport's modernization program. This is our latest win as we work to expand our business across the U.S. from headquarters in nearby San Ramon."

Consisting of 4,680 Canadian Solar CS5P monocrystalline modules, the solar array spans 3.4 acres across the garage roof. It is the largest municipal solar array in San Jose to date and one of the largest airport solar electric installations in the United States. It will enable SJC to curtail the release of 1,284 tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Canadian Solar CS module series is one of the highest ranking in the industry in PV USA (PTC) ratings, which are quickly becoming universally accepted standards for measuring real-world module energy production and performance. The CS modules offer high-yield, long-term performance, and superior efficiency and reliability, to meet the highest standards in the world.

"San Jose is leading the way for sustainable design and operations of airports across the nation," said Bill Sherry, SJC director of aviation. "We know that our community, airlines, tenants and passengers all want us to be the most cost-efficient and energy-efficient airport as possible, and this solar installation is a significant step toward achieving that goal."

Rosendin Electric Inc., based in San Jose, is a 100 percent employee-owned electrical engineering, power and communications provider that consistently ranks in the top five electrical contractors in the United States. In partnership with the company's lead project contractor, Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Rosendin engineered and installed SJC's rooftop solar electric project in record time with Canadian Solar modules.

The SJC solar electric system will go live in June 2010 when the airport opens its new Terminal B and rental car center for full-scale operations. The rental car center is a true pioneer among parking structures, featuring a unique stacked "quick-turn-around" facility that includes indoor fueling stations, carwash racks and a central rental car business center. The QTA facility allows SJC rental car companies to fuel and wash vehicles without leaving the garage, thus reducing cars from airport and community roadways, and reducing fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.

About Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)

Canadian Solar Inc. is one of the world's largest solar companies. As a leading vertically integrated provider of ingot, wafer, solar cell, solar module and other solar applications, Canadian Solar designs, manufactures and delivers solar products and solar system solutions for on-grid and off-grid use to customers worldwide. With operations in North America, Europe and Asia, Canadian Solar provides premium quality, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solar solutions to support global, sustainable development. For more information, visit http://www.canadiansolar.com .

    U.S. offices: 12657 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 140, San Ramon, CA  94583
    Telephone: 1-925-866-2700
    Fax: 1-925-866-2704

About Mineta San Jose International Airport

Mineta San Jose International Airport is a self-supporting enterprise, owned and operated by the City of San Jose. SJC served 8.3 million passengers in 2009, and has approximately 130 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 27 nonstop destinations. The airport is located in San Jose, California's third largest city and the nation's tenth largest city (population 1,023,000). For more information on SJC, please visit http://www.flysjanjose.com .

About the SJC Terminal Area Improvement Program

SJC's comprehensive $1.3 billion terminal area improvement program involves the modernization and replacement of the airport's terminal facilities, including the construction of new Terminal B and Terminal B Concourse that will replace of Terminal C originally built in 1965.

The program also includes complete interior transformation of Terminal A to provide more spacious and comfortable waiting areas, new ticketing area and faster security check-in systems.

The current program also includes a new 3,350-space rental car and public parking garage directly in front of Terminal B; expanded space for more options for quality food, beverage and retail services; an extensive public art program; and improved roadways providing more convenient access to the airport.

The overall modernization program is now ahead of schedule and under budget, and Terminal B is scheduled to open for service on June 30, 2010. The balance of the program, including new parking areas, is scheduled for completion by summer 2011.

About Rosendin Electric Inc.

Rosendin Electric, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, is a 100 percent employee-owned electrical engineering, power and communications provider that consistently ranks in the top five electrical contractors in the United States. Its 3,000 employees have built upon a 90-year reputation for quality installations nationally, with branch offices in San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Sacramento, CA; Tempe, AZ; Hillsboro, OR; Las Vegas, NV; and Arlington, VA. To keep pace with today's innovative high-tech business climate, Rosendin Electric Inc. strives to remain on the cutting edge of electrical technology. It attributes its success to building strategic partnerships and ensuring complete customer satisfaction. For additional information on Rosendin Electric, please visit http://www.rosendin.com .

Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release including statements are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business and economic conditions and the state of the solar industry; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future available supplies of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers, including customers of our silicon materials sales; changes in demand from major markets such as Germany and Canada; risks associated with building our new Ontario facility; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in average selling prices; delays in new product introduction; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company's SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 20-F originally filed on June 8, 2009, as amended by its report on Form 20-F/A filed on October 14, 2009. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today's date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc.