HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, Joins BT to Announce Solar Energy System for BT Americas' Headquarters

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, will join BT today to announce the ground-breaking of a renewable energy initiative at BT's office complex in Southern California. Next month, BT will begin construction of a solar photovoltaic system for its North American corporate headquarters site in the City of El Segundo (Los Angeles County). Once the system is fully operational by late summer, BT expects to reduce carbon emissions by 642,000 pounds (more than 290 metric tons) annually as well as decrease its overall power costs for the site in future years. According to Environmental Protection Agency figures, the reduction in carbon emissions is equivalent to powering more than 150 average- sized California homes for 12 months. The system has qualified for rebates under the California Solar Initiative.

HRH Prince Andrew, the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, commented, "British companies continue to demonstrate their interest and investment in the United States and in solutions to help reduce the impact of climate change." He continued, "I commend BT for its leadership in producing significant renewable energy solutions in the UK. With this solar project, BT extends its environmental consciousness to its operations in the U.S."

BT's solar power system is designed to maximize energy production, with the vast majority of the system's approximately 2,000 solar modules mounted on top of a state-of-the-art, elevated single-axis tracking system. Once completed, the system will be among the largest of its type in Southern California and is expected to generate approximately 917,000 kWh per year. BT selected EI Solutions to design, install, monitor, and maintain the solar power system. The system will be purchased, owned and operated by Solar Power Partners, Inc. (SPP), with the solar-generated electricity sold to BT under a Power Purchase Agreement.

"Our BT Americas' headquarters site in California was an ideal location for a solar power system due to its large, unobstructed, south-facing areas," said Michael Boustridge, president, BT Americas. "That, factored with the pressing need for our industry to cut carbon emissions, and the leadership of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on renewable energy initiatives, helped us easily decide to extend BT's global climate change strategy to our operations in the U.S." BT employs more than 100,000 people globally, with close to 800 employees in California.

Since 1996, BT has reduced its UK carbon emissions by 60 percent and is committed to extending that reduction to 80 percent (against 1996 baseline) by 2016. As part of its global climate change strategy, BT announced in October plans to develop wind farms aimed at generating up to 25 percent of its existing UK electricity requirements within the next eight years. The wind farm project represents the UK's largest corporate wind power project outside of the energy sector. Additionally, BT continues to implement reductions in its overall energy consumption globally, particularly in data centers through techniques such as server consolidation, virtualization and redesign of power supplies.

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; higher-value broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2007, BT Group plc's revenue was 20,223 million pounds Sterling with profit before taxation of 2,484 million pounds.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt