Marubeni Sustainable Energy, Inc., a Leader in Renewable Energy, Acquires Biomass-Fueled Plant in Springfield, NH

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Marubeni Sustainable Energy, Inc. (MSEI), headquartered in San Diego, California, announced today the purchase of a 16 MW biomass renewable energy plant located in Springfield, New Hampshire.

The purchase of the 16 megawatt (MW) plant again confirms Marubeni's value-focused acquisition strategy to acquire and develop clean, renewable power in its growing North American portfolio. This portfolio today tops 80 MW, with a staff of over 80 employees coast-to-coast.

"MSEI is pleased to complete this acquisition, our second such purchase within the fine state of New Hampshire. We are immediately beginning a significant spending plan to both renew this 20 year-old operating plant's reliability, and to make investments in new and improved emissions equipment to ensure that the Springfield Power facility is among the cleanest and most efficient in the area. We are committed to continued growth in the renewable energy arena, and to the valuable job retention and economic development that renewable energy revitalization projects like this provide," said John Wood, Sr. Vice President of MSEI.

By installing new equipment at the Springfield facility, MSEI will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 70% annually, which will also qualify MSEI's Springfield Power, LLC as one of the cleanest biomass facilities in New England.

MSEI also operates in Whitefield, NH one of the most advanced emission control systems for biomass plants throughout New England. In October, 2004, a multi-million dollar Pollution Control Unit was there installed to ensure long-term, continuous reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions. Subsequent investments by MSEI have also improved plant operating efficiency, including superior control of Carbon Monoxide emissions.

The Springfield biomass plant secures woody forest waste materials to produce more than 100,000 MWHr per year of renewable electricity. This material is supplied from area timber mills and forest residue which is shipped to the plant to be burned in its environmentally-controlled boiler. This renewable energy process is doubly beneficial to the environment because it both displaces electricity produced from gas or oil-fired power stations, and it simultaneously reduces green house gas (GHG) emissions that would have been produced if the waste woody biomass were left to burn or decay in the forest.

Marubeni Sustainable Energy, Inc. is one of the nation's leading integrated energy companies, operating a diverse portfolio of its owned industrial cogeneration, central plant, biomass and district energy systems throughout North America. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA, with offices in Medford, New Jersey.

Marubeni Sustainable Energy, Inc. is a subsidiary of Marubeni Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Marubeni Corporation is one of the world's largest companies and is involved in wide-ranging business fields. Marubeni is located in 71 countries with more than 5,000 employees worldwide and annual trading transaction volume in excess of $80 billion. Worldwide, Marubeni owns over 900 MW of renewable power facilities.

For Further Information, Contact: Melissa Moehrke, Marubeni Sustainable Energy, Inc. San Diego Office 619-232-6564 x 160 Email Moehrke-m@na.marubeni.com http://www.MSEI-Marubeni.com