MIDAMERICAN ENERGY
BHE Renewables is 2016 GEA Honors Award Winner

With demand for clean energy on the rise, and the need to stay competitive within the renewable energy sector, BHE Renewables developed a portfolio contract structure for geothermal marketing. Rather than contracting power from its individual plants, all of the facilities are marketed together as a group, providing a more diversified power supply and additional flexibility with volume and timing to meet customers' renewable energy supply needs.

Lenie Sarion, general manager, geothermal operations, said the forward thinking will greatly benefit customers with reliable renewable energy for years to come.

"It makes it easier for customers to tailor contracts to their future needs," she said.

Under the plan, power purchasers can select from a range of energy delivery start dates and variable capacities in increments of five megawatts, with more than 350 megawatts of capacity available for contract.

"This gives customers a diversified supply risk and the most flexibility to tailor renewable energy supply contracts to fit their specific needs. A customized approach with supply diversification appeals to a wide range of customers," said Eric Besseling, vice president, business development.

Randy Keller, director, business development, accepted the award on behalf of BHE Renewables during a ceremony on June 7. The ceremony was part of GEA's Baseload Renewable Energy Summit held in Reno, Nev.

Presented annually, the GEA's economic development award recognizes companies and individuals that have made significant contributions to local, regional or national markets through the development of geothermal systems.

Under the new contract structure, BHE Renewables has already recontracted approximately 70 percent of its entire fleet with long-term power purchase contracts that will remain in place until 2039. This provides job security for many local residents who work at the geothermal plants. It also generates tax revenue that supports local schools, police and fire protection, and infrastructure for the communities of Imperial County.

About the Geothermal Energy Association

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is a trade association comprised of U.S. companies that support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heat uses.

About BHE Renewables - Imperial Valley

BHE Renewables - Imperial Valley owns and operates 10 geothermal generation facilities in the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area in California's Imperial Valley. BHE Renewables is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy that owns and operates wind, geothermal, solar and hydro projects in the unregulated renewables market. BHE Renewables is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and has offices in Phoenix, Ariz., and Calipatria, Calif. Information about BHE Renewables and Imperial Valley is available on the company's website www.bherenewables.com.